Kevin McAleenan, acting US homeland security chief, resigns after six months on the job
President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Friday to announce that Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan would be stepping down from his position and would be replaced by another person, whose name would be disclosed by next week. "Kevin now, after many years in Government, wants to spend more time with his family and go to the private sector. I will be announcing the new Acting Secretary next week. Many wonderful candidates," he said. He further noted that McAleenan wanted to step away from his position and spend time with family.
"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...," he noted.
McAleenan also confirmed the news on his Twitter page as he noted, "I want to thank the President for the opportunity to serve alongside the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security."
He also released a statement that read, "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 crossing, partnering with the governments in the region to counter human smugglers and address the causes of mitigation and deploy additional border security resources."
McAleenan also spoke about the role he would be carrying forward as he noted, "I will work with 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."
Recently, Trump aide Madeleine Westerhout was also fired from her position after it was revealed that she leaked intimate information about the president's family to journalists. Meanwhile, McAleenan was the fourth person to lead the agency after he was appointed by Trump in April. He was appointed after Trump had asked former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to step down, as reported by Daily Mail.