Republican Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy explained Friday why he publicly raised concerns about internal distractions at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Kennedy said on “The Will Cain Show” that he often takes a different approach from his colleagues and speaks plainly about issues he believes deserve public attention. He added that others share his concerns and noted the White House has been aware of them for some time.
“You had concerns about managerial issues at DHS, and there were concerns you said were shared by several other senators who did not choose to speak out, and you did. Why didn’t we hear from other senators?” Will Cain asked.
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“Well, I can’t speak for them. I play outside the pocket. I will never completely fit in, which I consider to be one of my best qualities. I’m very frank. Sometimes, some people might think, to a fault. I have the right to remain silent, not the ability,” Kennedy told Cain. “That’s my job as a senator. And I’m not the only one that has these concerns. And the White House has had some concerns for a while.”
Kennedy warned that ongoing issues inside the DHS are pulling attention away from the administration’s priorities and weakening Republicans’ position on immigration.
“It’s not personal. I’m very fond of Kristi [Noem]. But the problems and many more are going to be discussed. At the department, we’re distracting from our agenda and the president’s agenda. Immigration used to be our strongest issue. It’s clearly not right now,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy confronted departing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during a Tuesday Senate Judiciary Committee hearing over the price tag tied to a nationwide television promotion effort. Lawmakers raised questions after reports that roughly $220 million in advertising deals went to firms linked to Noem and members of her inner circle without competitive bidding.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Republican Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin will replace Noem as secretary of DHS on March 31. Later that day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Noem will join him as a special envoy for the “Shield of the Americas,” a security initiative involving 13 countries.
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