Trump says Chad Wolf now acting Homeland Security chief, adding to confusion about transition

By Nick Miroff
November 1, 2019 at 9:43 p.m. EDT

President Trump told reporters Friday evening that Chad Wolf is the new acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, but it was unclear whether a formal appointment had occurred, extending confusion about who would step in to fill one of the country’s most crucial national security posts.

After reporters asked Trump about rumors he was planning to place Wolf in charge of DHS, Trump said, “Well he’s right now acting and we’ll see what happens.”

But no transition has taken place yet, according to two senior administration officials. Kevin McAleenan, the current acting DHS secretary, remains on the job, they said. McAleenan is scheduled to stay in the role at least through early next week, according to one of the senior administration officials, who was baffled by Trump’s statement.

Hogan Gidley, a White House spokesman, later told reporters later that McAleenan would remain in the acting secretary role until Veteran’s Day, and Wolf will take over after that.

Wolf, the acting undersecretary for policy at DHS, is a former lobbyist who was the chief of staff to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen until her ouster in April.

A White House official said Trump had no plans to nominate Wolf to the job permanently. ...

-snip-