Dana Brody, nominated to head Homeland Security, was nominated to the Senate Homeland Security Committee by President Donald Trump in January.
Brody was the chief executive officer of the National Security Agency and the former director of national intelligence for the Obama administration.
She has been an outspoken critic of the Obama-era National Security Act, and she was one of only a handful of women nominated to key positions at the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under President Barack Obama.
She also served as a lawyer in the Department of Justice’s criminal division.
Brodys nomination to the committee by President Trump was met with a flurry of criticism by Democrats, including Sen. Claire McCaskill Claire Conner McCaskallHillicon Valley: 50M affected by Facebook hack | Google CEO to testify on Capitol Hill | Tesla shares slump after SEC sues | House Intel votes to bar Trump tech privacy bill from being implemented | Five years after 9/11, ‘I was afraid to go to work’ MORE (D-Mo.), the ranking member on the Homeland Security committee.
Brody’s nomination sparked widespread condemnation from Democratic lawmakers, including President Biden, who criticized her nomination during a televised address.
Democrats also have questioned whether she is qualified for the job, as she did not complete her postgraduate degree in criminal justice.
The National Rifle Association has also called for her removal from the Senate homeland security committee, citing her support for gun control measures.
Republicans have also called on the Trump administration to stop nominating her to the Homeland security committee.
Brodtys nomination was also opposed by the Obama White House, which claimed that Brodys background was not vetted and that she would not be qualified for such a position.
President Obama nominated Brodsy to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency in December 2015.
During her confirmation hearing, Brodts nomination was met by a barrage of criticism from Democrats, some of whom argued that she lacked a clear understanding of the importance of terrorism to the country.
It is unclear whether she would be able to handle such a role in the Trump Administration.
Brods nomination for the Homeland defense and intelligence committee has been met with intense criticism from Republicans, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain John Sidney McCainChris Wallace: Ford’s testimony was ‘without substance’ GOP may not survive Trump, but what’s next is unclear Overnight Health Care: GOP plays defense over pre-existing conditions | Groups furious over new Trump immigration proposal | GOP to delay funding for weather modification | FDA delays Trump-era rule on price for COVID-19 vaccine | Lawmakers ponder new options for regulating high-risk pools MORE (Ariz.).
The Obama administration argued that Brods background as an FBI agent and as a military officer was not enough to get her confirmation.
After the hearing, Sen. John Thune John Randolph ThuneCongress faces new reality in the aftermath of ‘Frozen,’ Kavanaugh’s fate Democrats weigh in on Supreme Court nomination MORE (S.D.)
(R-S.H.) said that Brody is a “dangerous choice.”
He added that Brodnys nomination would be a dangerous signal that “we are no longer prepared to defend this country.”
Sen. Kelly Ayotte Kelly Ann AyotteGOP mulls having no more Republicans in Senate | Poll: 50% of women prefer Cruz over Trump in 2020 GOP senator wins reelection bid against incumbent Kelly AyotkerNew Hampshire GOP Senate candidate hits back at Ayotte over Trump ‘unmasking’ controversy | ‘She’s a bad person’: GOP candidate defends controversial comments on womenSen.
Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamGOP Senate candidate blasts ‘uncovering’ of Kavanaugh dossier | ‘I’m not a doctor’ to Fox News debate question | CNN contributor: Ayotte should ‘step down’ from Homeland Security subcommitteeGraham says ‘she is a good person’ but ‘she’s a dangerous choice’ for Homeland Security ChairmanGraham: Ayotkar is ‘a bad person’ for DHS chairThe Fix: Senate panel considers whether Kelly Ayoktok should resign from Homeland security subcommittee | Dem calls for Ayotte to resign as Homeland Security chairThe Hill’s Morning Report — Sponsored by Verizon — Reid says Biden’s response to Kavanaugh allegations ‘inappropriate’Sen. Ron Johnson Ron JohnsonThe Senate must act on Kavanaugh nomination to keep Democrats in control of the House | Dems look to move forward with Kavanaugh nomination MORE Jr. (Wis.) called Brody a “weak nominee.”
“This is not the first time that someone who has been a leader in the fight against terrorism has been nominated for the post of Homeland Security Secretary,” he said.
“As a leader of the bipartisan bipartisan Gang of Eight, Dana Brodks nomination is an important step forward for our nation’s security.
I applaud the committee for
