Politics

Napolitano Gives Farewell Speech

Don't let the door hit you

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WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Tuesday that she is resigning with confidence from the Obama administration and that her tenure helped the agency prevent terrorist attacks and respond to disasters.

In her farewell speech at the National Press Club, Napolitano said the department has responded to attempted terrorist attacks and the April 15 bombing at the Boston Marathon. She said it's also been tested with disasters, including the Gulf oil spill and Hurricane Sandy, and learned from each event.

Napolitano, the third secretary of the department, will leave next week to take over as president of the University of California system. It is unclear when President Barack Obama will name a successor or who that person will be.