Trump selects ex-DHS official for key DOJ post

President-elect Trump chose Chad Mizelle, a former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, to be the next chief of staff at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Mizelle, an ally of the incoming White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, will work alongside the president-elect’s choice for attorney general, Pam Bondi, Trump said Saturday in a post on Truth Social. 

He was previously an acting general counsel and chief of staff at DHS. Before that role, Mizelle was the counsel to the deputy attorney general at the DOJ. 

“During my First Term, Chad was General Counsel and Chief of Staff at the Department of Homeland Security, where he helped to secure our Border, and stop the flow of illegal drugs and aliens into our Country,” Trump said. “Chad is a MAGA warrior, who will help bring accountability, integrity, and Justice back to the DOJ.”

Mizelle is a chief legal officer at Affinity Partners, an investment firm formed by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, according to his LinkedIn. He received his J.D. from Cornell Law School. Mizelle’s wife, Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, is a federal judge in Florida who was appointed by the president-elect. 

Apart from Mizelle, Trump announced another key selection for the DOJ on Saturday, picking Aaron Reitz, Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) current chief of staff, to head the Office of Legal Policy (OLP) next month.

“Aaron will lead OLP to develop and implement DOJ’s battle plans to advance my Law and Order Agenda, and restore integrity to our Justice System. He will be working with Attorney General Nominee, Pam Bondi,” Trump said in a Saturday Truth Social post. 

Prior to serving to being in the Senate, Reitz was working as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's deputy. Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Cruz took to social media to praise his chief of staff and congratulate him on the selection. 

“Aaron has led my staff in DC and throughout Texas faithfully and with diligence and energy. He has an extensive record of fighting for justice, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law,” Cruz said Saturday on X. “He will serve President Trump, AG Bondi, and the Department of Justice well, and aid in their mission to restore integrity, transparency, and honor to one of our nation’s most important institutions.”