Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Monday urged President Trump not to dismiss any additional Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, saying that Trump is “pulling the rug out from” under his immigration officials.
Grassley also told The Washington Post that he is “very, very concerned” amid speculation of a broad purge at DHS.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Secret Service Director Randolph Alles will soon leave the agency.
{mosads}The Post, citing department officials, reported that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Lee Cissna and DHS general counsel John Mitnick could be next to go. The newspaper noted that Trump also recently withdrew the nomination of Ronald Vitiello to be the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“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,” Grassley told the Post. “He’s pulling the rug out from the very people that are trying to help him accomplish his goal.”
Grassley added that he texted White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to express his concerns about the potential departure of Cissna.
“He didn’t seem to know who I was talking about,” Grassley said, adding that Mulvaney told him he would look into it.
When asked whether he wanted to speak directly with Trump, the Iowa senator said he will “see if it’s necessary.”
Grassley also criticized White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, who is especially hawkish on immigration and reportedly urged Trump to pull Vitiello’s nomination as ICE director.
“I think it would be hard for him to demonstrate he’s accomplished anything for the president,” Grassley said.