US Senate confirms Kirstjen Nielsen as DHS secretary

In a 62-37 vote Tuesday, the US Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee, Kirstjen Nielsen, to head the Department of Homeland Security. Nielsen will assume the post after serving under former DHS Secretary John Kelly who became Trump’s chief of staff and brought along Nielsen as his deputy in July. Nielsen, 45, will replace acting DHS secretary, Elaine Duke. The DHS has a budget of over $40 billion and a staff of over 230,000.