washington u.s. senate tuesday confirm president donald trump choice lead department homeland security dhs post open john kelly become trump chief staff early year senators vote 62-37 confirm kirstjen nielsen formerly kelly deputy white house chief staff lead dhs consider cyber security expert previously serve administration republican president george w. bush nielsen 45 take rein department 240,000 employees responsible immigration enforcement u.s. border airport security disaster response protect u.s. infrastructure cyber attack agency center trump efforts enact broad change u.s. immigration system elaine duke civil servant dhs deputy secretary serve act secretary since kelly departure white house july last five months ha responsible several controversial dhs decisions include end temporary protect status thousands immigrants live unite state federal emergency management agency dhs entity come criticism response humanitarian disaster work hurricane maria strike puerto rico september statement duke say look forward work nielsen deputy say nielsen deep understand issue face department eleven democrats vote nearly republicans confirm nielsen republican senator lamar alexander vote republicans vote confirmation house judiciary chairman bob goodlatte republican say statement nielsen would bring expertise leadership need successfully run department democratic representative bennie thompson say statement nielsen yet show ability lead workforce 240,000 keep country safe secure say dhs far use political tool white house senate confirm trump 's pick homeland security secretary