Senate

Senators approve top DHS nominee

by Jordain Carney - 04/16/15 6:41 PM ET

Senators on Thursday overwhelmingly approved Russell Deyo to be the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) No. 3 official.

Senators voted 95-2 to confirm Deyo as the undersecretary for management, with only Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and David Vitter (R-La.) opposing his nomination.

{mosads}Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who chairs the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said ahead of the vote that senators were “very fortunate” that Deyo was willing to take the position.

“We are very fortunate to have an individual of Mr. Deyo’s qualifications and integrity willing to serve our government working with [DHS] Secretary Jeh Johnson in trying to help him succeed in his mission of keeping this nation safe,” he said, adding that he would like a unanimous vote.

“We should call ourselves lucky that a guy or gal with his credentials from the private sector is willing to go to work for the people of America and serve all of us,” Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) said.

Deyo was previously the vice president and general counsel for Johnson & Johnson, as well as an assistant United States attorney for the District of New Jersey.

Jonson said that Deyo’s arrival at the department will “bring greater effectiveness and efficiency to the manner in which we pursue our homeland security mission for the American people.”

The Senate also approved Jonodev Osceola Chaudhuri’s nomination to be chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission by voice vote.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), as well GOP presidential contenders Ted Cruz (Texas) and Marco Rubio (Fla.), missed the votes.

Tags Barbara Boxer David Vitter Marco Rubio Mike Lee Ron Johnson Ted Cruz Tom Carper