Wolf’s tenure has been marked by civil unrest, the division’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and allegations of modifying intelligence assessments for political functions.
When requested in regards to the grievance shortly after its launch, Trump mentioned he was unaware of it and deferred to Wolf. “Ask Chad Wolf, he is the one that may know one thing about it,” Trump instructed reporters.
On Wednesday, Wolf will testify earlier than the Republican-led Senate Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs Committee. Senators may additionally push Wolf on the actual fact he is been serving in an appearing function for thus lengthy regardless of questions on his authorized standing.
Since assuming the job in November, a federal decide and authorities watchdog have forged doubt on the validity of Wolf’s appointment.
Earlier than assuming the highest DHS publish, Wolf was nominated by Trump to function undersecretary for the Workplace of Technique, Coverage, and Plans at DHS.
Throughout his Senate affirmation listening to for the undersecretary function, Wolf, who labored alongside Nielsen, confronted questions over his function within the administration’s zero-tolerance coverage that led to hundreds of kids being separated from their mother and father on the border.
When requested if he had considerations in regards to the coverage on the time, Wolf mentioned, “My job wasn’t to find out whether or not it was the suitable or improper coverage. My job, on the time, was to make sure that the secretary had all the data.”
He was ultimately confirmed by the Senate for the coverage function on November 13, 2019 — the identical day, he was designated because the appearing secretary.
When Trump introduced Wolf’s nomination, the committee’s Democratic rating member Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan mentioned in a press release that given Wolf’s document since assuming his function, he has “critical questions and considerations about his suitability for the job,” saying the division “wants certified, principled leaders to safeguard” the nation.
Wolf has additionally fielded criticism from present and former officers who argue Wolf is politicizing the division in seizing Trump’s law-and-order message and admonishing Portland, the place civil unrest persevered for weeks. A division spokesperson instructed CNN final week the view that Wolf is additional politicizing the division “is a speaking level by one social gathering. The overwhelming majority of Individuals would say that appearing Secretary Wolf is simply doing his job.”
Democratic lawmakers mentioned that they had hoped to pose to inquiries to Wolf final week, however a call to not seem earlier than a Home panel left them unanswered. DHS mentioned his pending nomination barred him from testifying. As an alternative, Wolf met with Senate committee workers to debate his nomination to get the job main the division on a everlasting foundation.
“Mr. Wolf’s apparent and blatant disregard for Congressional oversight and his repeated failure to supply even probably the most primary data required by the Committee to know the Division’s actions render him unfit for affirmation as Secretary of a Cupboard-level division,” Thompson wrote.
It is unclear whether or not Wolf will get a Senate vote earlier than the November presidential election. Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer referred to as Wolf an “terrible selection” in a tweet, citing Wolf’s efficiency at DHS.
CNN’s Geneva Sands contributed to this report.
