I want to begin by thanking the thousands of DHS employees and
contractors for their tireless work preparing the United States for
COVID-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus. This includes those on the
frontlines of our operations, those working behind the scenes on
preparedness and planning, and those making sure that our workforce remains
safe so that you can continue to protect the Homeland. Thanks to their efforts
at air, land, and sea ports, DHS, working alongside our interagency
partners, was successfully able to keep the virus out of the homeland for an
initial period to buy federal, state, and local public health systems more
time to prepare. We have taken numerous protective and cautionary measures to
ensure the health and safety of our workforce, the American people, and
global travelers and you can be assured that we will continue to do so. The
work that the President’s Task Force is accomplishing every day is
remarkable. As a member of the Task Force, the Department has a seat at the
table where key decisions are debated and finalized. This includes a
significant role in working with the airline and cruise line industries as
their operations are altered or suspended in order to mitigate the
community spread of the disease through a common-sense approach. This past
Friday, President Trump declared a National Emergency which moves us into
a new phase of the fight. In addition to the medical and economic relief
measures the President announced, this action also initiates activities for
FEMA, as state, territorial, tribal, and local government entities and
certain non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for Public
Assistance. This includes emergency protective measures such as the
activation of State Emergency Operations Centers, National Guard
costs, law enforcement, among other critical support functions. This
announcement and FEMA’s enhanced role increases federal support to the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in its role as the lead federal
agency for the federal government’s response to coronavirus. In the days
ahead, I will be sharing additional information on ways all elements of the
Department are supporting the American people through this difficult and
challenging time. While I know that you are receiving a steady flow of information
from the Department's Chief Human Capital, Officer, Management and component leadership
on this topic, you can also be assured that myself and other senior leadership are
working around the clock to ensure our workforce remains protected and ready
to secure the Homeland. The Department’s Chief Medical Officer,
and his staff continue to closely coordinate with medical
professionals at HHS and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and we will
continue to adjust and evolve our measures, both to protect the American
people, as well as our employees, as needed. The unknown nature of this
virus can be concerning. And as a father, husband, and son, I sympathize with and
understand the concerns many of you have about the well-being of your loved
ones of all ages. As you’ve likely heard the Vice President and health
officials say in recent days, there are simple steps the CDC recommend you
follow to protect yourself and others, including frequent handwashing,
avoiding close contact with people who are sick, and disinfecting
frequently-touched surfaces daily. As the leader of this Department, my
biggest commitment is to you. My heart goes out to the handful of DHS
employees who have recently tested positive for coronavirus and others who
have been self-quarantined. Many of these individuals have lead by example and
heeded the advice of our medical professionals—they have stayed home when
they felt sick, they immediately contacted their primary care doctor,
they self-quarantined, and reported their condition. This is
exactly the kind of professionalism and leadership that I am proud to say
exists across our entire workforce. I hope you’ll join me in thanking them
for their leadership and service. We keep them in our thoughts and prayers
for a speedy recovery. The DHS workforce remains the Department’s
most valuable asset and your health and security are priority number one for me
and senior leadership. With this in mind, I have asked all office and
component heads to determine the best way to implement a broad-based telework
strategy while still maintaining departmental functionality. As you may
have seen over the weekend, this is consistent with the Office of Management
and Budget and Office of Personnel Management’s most recent guidance.
We all certainly play a role in this mission. As members of the
Department, we each have a responsibility to be informed and
knowledgeable about the virus. I encourage you to visit the DHS Chief
Human Capital Officer’s DHS Connect site where you will find coronavirus
Workforce Information. Please take the time to become familiar with this very
important information supplied by the CDC and our federal partners. To access
information for the general public, please visit coronavirus.gov. While DHS
is working to limit and manage the spread of coronavirus, I ask that you
remain vigilant and self-report when you or others are ill. As the situation
evolves, I pledge to you that DHS will remain forward-leaning on protecting
our employees by providing real-time information and clear guidance on
mitigation and safety measures. It is at these critical times that I am in
awe of the men and women who stand watch to secure our homeland. The
Department will continue to communicate at all levels as this situation
evolves. Thank you for what you do every day to protect the American people.