He held similar positions at DHS in the Obama administration and rejoined DHS in January when President Joe Biden took office. Last summer, former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf directed the intelligence branch to cease collecting information involving US members of the media and ordered a review of the incident. The office became overly focused on intelligence originating from the federal intelligence community at the expense of its unique ability to capitalize on relationships with non-federal law enforcement entities. Melissa Smislova, a career official who has led the intelligence office during recent months, will return to her role as deputy undersecretary for intelligence enterprise readiness, working under Cohen's leadership. Smislova was left to answer for the role DHS intelligence played leading up to the deadly January 6 riot at the US Capitol.

Source: CNN July 09, 2021 22:18 UTC