Reps. Katko, Meijer express unfilled national security post concerns

U.S. Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Peter Meijer (R-MI) expressed concerns regarding what they maintain is the nation’s potential vulnerable security posture amid national security positions in the Biden administration being unfilled.

Katko and Meijer sent a letter to President Joe Biden stating that 76 percent of top national security posts remain vacant, adversely impacting the nation’s ability to respond to or mitigate potential homeland security threats.

“Despite these facts, what is truly alarming is that the number of national security positions that remain vacant today is greater than the number of national security positions that were vacant just before the terrorist attacks of September 11,” Katko,
ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and Meijer, ranking member of the Oversight Subcommittee, wrote. “The 9/11 Commission found nearly half of the USG top national security jobs were empty before the attacks and that today, only 26 percent of your choices for Senate-confirmed national security posts are filled. This is an unacceptable situation, Mr. President. We must work together to tackle this national security vulnerability now.”

Katko and Meijer also requested more information regarding the delay and a timeline for nominations that would result in appointing candidates.

“The main problem remains the fact that your administration has not chosen individuals to fill key leadership roles, including even those senior positions that do not require Senate confirmation,” the lawmakers concluded. “DHS is currently tackling several high-profile, critical, and controversial issues, including managing the continuous surge of migrants at the southwest border and serving as the lead coordinating agency in the effort to resettle tens of thousands of Afghans in the U.S. An under-staffed Department threatens the Department’s effectiveness in responding to a rapidly shifting world and ability to meet homeland security threats head-on.”