page_title: Kirstjen Nielsen
section_title: Nomination
hierarchical_section_title: Kirstjen Nielsen / Secretary of Homeland Security / Nomination
caption_attribution_description: English: Kirstjen Nielsen takes the Oath of Office as the Sixth Secretary of Homeland Security. Ms. Nielsen is joined by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Executive Clerk of the White House David Kalbaugh. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.
context_page_description: Kirstjen Michele Nielsen is an American politician and attorney who is a former United States secretary of homeland security. She is a former principal White House deputy chief of staff to President Donald Trump and was chief of staff to John F. Kelly during his tenure as secretary of homeland security.
  Nielsen was confirmed as secretary of homeland security on December 5, 2017. Following her appointment, Nielsen implemented the controversial Trump administration family separation policy. She resigned in April 2019.
context_section_description: On October 11, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Nielsen to be the new United States secretary of homeland security, replacing Acting Secretary Elaine Duke. On December 5, 2017, the Senate confirmed her nomination, by a 62–37 vote. On December 6, 2017, she was sworn in as secretary of homeland security.
caption: Kirstjen Nielsen taking the oath of office as the sixth U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
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