U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has resigned her post in the Trump administration, in a surprise announcement early Sunday evening.
President Donald Trump tweeted the news, saying Nielson “will be leaving her position, and I would like to thank her for her service . . . “
In a second, followup tweet, he added that her temporary replacement would be Kevin McAleenan, the current U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner.
….I am pleased to announce that Kevin McAleenan, the current U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, will become Acting Secretary for . I have confidence that Kevin will do a great job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Neilsen faced many challenges in her post, but the final reason that prompted her resignation remains unclear.