(CNN) The appointments of Chad Wolf and Ken Cuccinelli to the top two leadership roles at the Department of Homeland Security are invalid, the Government Accountability Office found in a new report, delivering a major rebuke to the Trump administration, which has repeatedly tried to skirt the confirmation process. The Trump administration has increasingly relied on filling top posts with people on a temporary basis, fielding criticism from lawmakers. The Department of Homeland Security -- the third-largest federal department -- hasn't had a Senate-confirmed secretary since Kirstjen Nielsen, who resigned in April 2019. Since 2017, the department has had five secretaries -- only two of which were confirmed by the Senate: John Kelly and Nielsen. The others have occupied the role in an acting capacity, often leaving the department's leaders at the whims of the President and as a result, vulnerable to increased politicization.

Source: CNN August 14, 2020 14:31 UTC