Raliegh -- August 10, 2026: In a sharp move aimed at bypassing legislative gridlock, Governor Josh Stein announced a major shift in public safety leadership.
Governor Stein officially withdrew the cabinet nomination of Jeff Smythe for Secretary of the Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) after seven months without a confirmation hearing in the North Carolina Senate. Instead, Stein appointed Smythe to serve as Senior Advisor for Homeland Security directly within the Governor’s Office.
To keep the agency running smoothly, Department of Public Safety Chief of Staff Casandra Hoekstra will serve as Interim Secretary for NCDPS while the administration conducts a search for a permanent successor.
Governor’s Full Statement
In the announcement, Governor Stein issued a direct rebuke of the state Senate's inaction while laying out the core reasoning for the administrative shift:
“Jeff Smythe is a dedicated public servant and decorated law enforcement leader who has spent his 40-year career focused on keeping people safe. That’s why I nominated him to serve as Secretary of the Department of Public Safety more than seven months ago. Yet by failing to consider his nomination or even hold a single public hearing, the Senate abdicated its responsibility, disrespected Jeff and law enforcement, and undermined the safety of the people of North Carolina. Their failure to do their jobs is unacceptable.
“The people of North Carolina are safer when proven and talented public servants like Jeff are empowered to lead. So today, I am appointing him to be my Senior Advisor for Homeland Security in the Governor’s Office and am withdrawing his nomination as Secretary. I have appointed Department of Public Safety Chief of Staff Casandra Hoekstra to serve as Interim Secretary for NCDPS while we conduct a search. Politics should never get in the way of our work to create a safer, stronger North Carolina. I certainly won’t let it.”
Background and Context
Jeff Smythe: Holds four decades of public safety experience, previously serving as Director of the N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Division under the Department of Justice and as Chief of Police in Burlington. By shifting him into an executive advisory role, the administration keeps his law enforcement expertise at the state level without requiring Senate confirmation.
Casandra Hoekstra: Moves into the Interim Secretary role directly from her position as NCDPS Chief of Staff, providing immediate continuity across emergency management, law enforcement, and administrative operations.
Department Impact
The NCDPS Secretary is responsible for state law enforcement, emergency management, juvenile justice, and the North Carolina National Guard—a combined force of thousands of employees and service members. Moving Smythe into the Senior Advisor role allows the Governor's Office to retain key leadership in state homeland security matters while the search for a permanent cabinet nominee gets underway.
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