Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff sat down with reporters from Federal Times this morning to share his thoughts on the transition, the department’s big programs, and its progress over the last six years.
Chertoff gave high marks to the Obama administration’s secretary-designate, Janet Napolitano; he’s known Napolitano for more than a decade, and praised her management style. He also outlined what he saw as the most immediate priorities for the department under the new administration:
- Finish implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which requires all travelers to show a passport when entering the United States, even citizens returning from countries like Canada and Mexico; WHTI was a recommendation of the 9/11 commission,
- Creating a 2010 budget for the department,
- Researching and deploying the next generation of nuclear and biological weapons detectors.
Hopefully we’ll have video of the interview to post later today — check back this afternoon!
