Sen. Charles E. Grassley warned President Trump Monday against firing additional leaders within the Department of Homeland Security — following the departures of outgoing DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Secret Service Director Randolph D. “Tex” Alles, and rumors that Lee Francis Cissna, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, might be next.
“One, those are good public servants. Secondly, besides the personal connection I have with them and the qualifications they have, they are the intellectual basis for what the president wants to accomplish in immigration,” the Iowa Republican told The Washington Post.
“The president has to have some stability and particularly with the number one issue that he’s made for his campaign, throughout his two and a half years of presidency. He’s pulling the rug out from the very people that are trying to help him accomplish his goal,” he continued.
Mr. Grassley was also critical of senior White House adviser Stephen Miller, who has reportedly pushed for the many removals from DHS.
“I think it would be hard for him to demonstrate he’s accomplished anything for the president,” the senator said. “It’s pretty hard to elaborate on it when there hasn’t been any accomplishments.”
Mr. Trump announced on Sunday Ms. Nielsen would be resigning and replaced with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan.
The White House then announced Monday that Mr. Alles would be substituted with James Murray as Secret Service director.
• Bailey Vogt can be reached at bvogt@washingtontimes.com.
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