Top House Democrats ask for review of DHS appointments

The heads of the House Oversight and Reform and House Homeland Security committees called Friday for an official review on the legality of two top appointments this week at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Reps. Bennie ThompsonBennie Gordon ThompsonTop House Democrats ask for review of DHS appointments Bipartisan bill to secure election tech advances to House floor Chad Wolf becomes acting DHS secretary MORE (D-Miss.), chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and Carolyn MaloneyCarolyn Bosher MaloneyTop House Democrats ask for review of DHS appointments Maloney primary challenger calls on her to return, donate previous campaign donations from Trump Appeals court clears way for Congress to seek Trump financial records MORE (D-N.Y.), acting chairwoman of the Oversight panel, are seeking a review of the Trump administration’s appointment of Chad WolfChad WolfTop House Democrats ask for review of DHS appointments Chad Wolf becomes acting DHS secretary Senate paves way for Trump’s next DHS chief MORE as acting secretary and Ken Cuccinelli as acting deputy secretary at DHS.

Wolf was named to the post Wednesday, immediately following his Senate confirmation as undersecretary for strategy, plans and policy, a prior step that was necessary for him to be in line for promotion to acting secretary under the department’s internal succession rules.

Shortly thereafter, Wolf named Cuccinelli as acting deputy secretary.

But Thompson and Maloney, in a letter to U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, have cast doubt about the legitimacy of those appointments, which were conducted under amendments to succession rules at the DHS implemented by former acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan before his departure last week and previously by former Secretary Kirstjen NielsenKirstjen Michele NielsenTop House Democrats ask for review of DHS appointments Chad Wolf becomes acting DHS secretary Senate paves way for Trump’s next DHS chief MORE.

According to the letter, McAleenan’s change to succession rules could be in question as McAleenan’s own appointment may not have been legal.

McAleenan became acting DHS secretary after Nielsen had herself amended the rules of succession.

“Recently released documents suggest that the installation of Mr. Wolf as the Acting Secretary may violate the law, as Mr. McAleenan may not have been lawfully serving as Acting Secretary,” wrote Thompson and Maloney.

Thompson and Maloney contend that Nielsen’s last-minute changes to DHS succession rules did not allow McAleenan to succeed her.

McAleenan was previously serving as the Senate-confirmed Customs and Border Protection commissioner.

The two chairpersons also wrote that regardless of the legality of McAleenan’s appointment, his amendment that allowed the appointment of Wolf could still be invalid, as he issued it after exceeding the statutory federal 210-day limit for acting officials.

Thompson and Maloney therefore argued that McAleenan’s appointment had expired by the time he made the changes.

The letter is the latest chapter in a fight that’s pitted the White House against not only congressional Democrats but also Senate Republicans, who’ve opposed the appointment of Cuccinelli to any Senate-confirmed office.

Cuccinelli, an immigration hard-liner and Trump ally, was the White House’s top choice to succeed McAleenan as head of DHS, but ran into headwinds as Senate Republicans indicated he would not be confirmed if nominated.

Cuccinelli, until Wednesday the acting director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, ran afoul of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOn The Money: Trump asks Supreme Court to block Dem subpoena for financial records | Kudlow ‘very optimistic’ for new NAFTA deal | House passes Ex-Im Bank bill opposed by Trump, McConnell Top House Democrats ask for review of DHS appointments Warren promises gradual move toward ‘Medicare for All’ in first 100 days MORE (R-Ky.) after helping fund a primary opponent of McConnell’s in the 2014 election.

Wolf is a former chief of staff to Nielsen who’s rankled both the left and right in the immigration debate.

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