Jeh Johnson, who President Barack Obama Friday is expected to nominate as Homeland Security secretary, can expect a warm welcome from a key U.S. senator.
Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which will consider the nomination.
Carper called the choice "welcome news."
"This nomination comes at a critical time for the agency and its mission because, for the past several months, the Department has been operating without a Senate-confirmed Secretary or Deputy Secretary, and also has numerous other high-level vacancies," Carper said in a statement.
"Mr. Johnson brings a wealth of experience from the Department of Defense, and I am eager to meet with him and discuss his vision for the Department of Homeland Security. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee to consider his nomination in a thorough and timely manner.”