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Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan Quits

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan Joins Discussion At The Council On Foreign Relations

The acting Secretary for Homeland Security, Kevin McAleenan is stepping down from the post, six months after accepting the job.

President Donald Trump announced McAleenan's departure in a pair of tweets posted to Twitter late Friday.

"Kevin McAleenan has done an outstanding job as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security. We have worked well together with Border Crossings being way down. Kevin now, after many years in Government, wants to spend more time with his family and go to the private sector. Congratulations Kevin, on a job well done! I will be announcing the new Acting Secretary next week. Many wonderful candidates!" Trump tweeted.

The 48-year-old McAleenan was appointed to the gig in April after then-secretary Kirstjen Nielsen resigned from the post.

McAleenan also took to Twitter to thank the president for allowing him to experience the opportunity for working for the Trump Administration.

"I want to thank the President for the opportunity to serve alongside the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security. With his support, over the last 6 months, we have made tremendous progress mitigating the border security and humanitarian crisis we faced this year, by reducing unlawful crossings, partnering with governments in the region to counter human smugglers and address the causes of migration, and deploy additional border security resources," McAleenan said in the note. "I will work with the White House and DHS leadership teams on a smooth transition, and remain forever grateful to the men and women of the Department for their steadfast efforts to secure our country."

Before working as the acting Secretary for Homeland Security, McAleenan served as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner before Trump asked him to fill in for Neilsen. McAleenan has held also held senior posts within Customs and Border Protection in President George W. Bush's administration.

Photo: Getty Images


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