Event: House HS Hearing with Janet Napolitano

The House Committee on Homeland Security will be having a full committee hearing on Wednesday Feb 25, with DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano as a witness. The title/subject is “DHS: The Path Forward.”

Overview of Napolitano’s Action Directives

In her first 10 days in office, new Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has issued 12 “action directives” focused on specific homeland security areas. Here’s an overview of all the action directives, including their purpose and a brief look at what they may indicate for Homeland Security policy in the Obama administration.

Napolitano sails through confirmation hearing

Janet Napolitano completed her confirmation before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Thursday, drawing praise and vows of support from every member of the committee, including both Republican members. Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-) said that he will move to have Napolitano confirmed by the full Senate as soon as possible after President-elect Obama’s inauguration next week.

FEMA’s relationship to DHS drawing attention and debate

One of the big decisions President-elect Obama will face when his administration takes over DHS is whether to leave FEMA as a part of DHS, or remove it from DHS and make it a cabinet-level agency, as it was before DHS was formed. Members of Congress, stakeholders, and prominent organizations are taking sides on the issue, but it’s not clear yet what stancethe Obama administration will take.

Likely candidates for the next Homeland Security Secretary

CQ Politics considers who the most likely Cabinet picks will be for both McCain and Obama.
The people cited as possible Secretary of Homeland Security are:
For McCain:

Frank Keating, CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers.

Experience: 2-term Governor of Oklahoma, head of Secret Service, head of Customs, head of INS, FBI agent, state and federal prosecutor.

Mitt [...]