Hearing for Trump's pick for Homeland Security

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security says cybersecurity will be one of her top priorities.

Kirstjen Nielsen, a former staffer at the sprawling federal agency, says the scope and pace of cyberattacks on federal networks and critical infrastructure are "continually increasing" and grow more complex and sophisticated each day.

Nielsen, 45, now serves as deputy White House chief of staff. She tells the Senate Homeland Security Committee that threats to the homeland "are too many and too varied" for any one agency to confront alone. She pledged to work across government and the private sector to find solutions.

Noting recent hurricanes and wildfires, Nielsen called disaster preparedness crucial.

Trump nominated Nielsen last month to succeed John Kelly, now White House chief of staff.