Correspondence
Homeland Democrats Inquiry on Kristi Noem’s Illegal Mass Firings at DHS
2025 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Committee Democrats, announced a letter they sent to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem inquiring on her recent illegal termination of hundreds of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) probationary employees, including those who had received strong performance reviews and military veterans. Letter excerpt: Without a fully staffed Department, the United States is less … Continue Reading
February 24, 2025
Thompson, Raskin Demand Noem Investigate Reports of ICE Counsel Expressing Racist and Xenophobic Views Online Since 2012
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding she launch an immediate investigation - and pursue appropriate disciplinary action if verified - into reports that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Chief Counsel, James Rodden, openly expresses racist and xenophobic views … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Ranking Members Larsen, Thompson Send Letter to Trump Officials About Illegal Firing of Four FEMA Employees
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D-WA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and the Ranking Members from their relevant subcommittees sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and the Senior Official Performing the Duties of Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Cameron Hamilton following the illegal … Continue Reading
February 11, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson: DHS Sec. Noem Must Testify on DOGE Access to DHS Systems, Comments on Dismantling FEMA, Attacks on Law Enforcement
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) to demand that he invite Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to testify before the Committee to answer questions on Elon Musk and DOGE’s access to Department of Homeland Security IT systems, her and President Trump’s comments on dismantling FEMA, her attacks on law enforcement, and her not prioritizing cybersecurity: Letter … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025
Homeland Democrats Demand Trump Administration Follow Federal Data Protection Laws in Elon’s DOGE Debacle
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Committee Democrats sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) demanding that the Trump Administration follow all relevant Federal data protection laws after it was revealed this week that Elon Musk and DOGE have exceeded their authority and may have broken numerous Federal laws with grave national security consequences. “We know that China and other foreign … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025
Homeland Democrats Demand Information About National Security Impact of Trump’s Hiring Freeze on our Cybersecurity Workforce
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Committee Democrats sent a letter to Office of Personnel Management demanding more information on the impact President Trump’s hiring freeze will have on the Federal government’s cybersecurity workforce. “[T]he Federal government has struggled to recruit, hire, and retain qualified cybersecurity workers for many years. During the Biden Administration, the Federal government took … Continue Reading
January 31, 2025
Homeland Democrats Write DHS Secretary Noem After Trump Administration Creates Mass Confusion on Critical Homeland Security Grants
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Committee Democrats sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on the Trump Administration’s confusing plans for critical homeland security grants that Congress has funded in law. This week, after the administration rescinded - and a judge blocked - an Office of Management and Budget memorandum ordering agencies to stop disbursements of grants, Noem added to the chaos … Continue Reading
January 25, 2025
Rebuking Late-night Purge of Inspectors General, House Democratic Ranking Members Demand Trump Comply with the Law
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, joined House Committee Ranking Members in a letter to President Donald Trump condemning his attempted late-night purge of at least 12 independent inspectors general, which violated federal law designed to protect their work from political interference and intimidation. The Ranking Members wrote: “We write to express our grave concern about your recent attempt to unlawfully and … Continue Reading
March 08, 2024
Ranking Members Thompson and Raskin Call on Chairmen Comer and Green to Reject DHS IG Cuffari’s Attempts to Evade Oversight
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Rep. James Comer, Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Rep. Mark Green, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, urging them to reject Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari’s attempts to evade oversight and accountability … Continue Reading
March 01, 2024
Congressmen Goldman, Thompson, Magaziner Lead Call for Biden Administration to Name Domestic Terrorism Director, Request Update on National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism
Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), and Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism Ranking Member Seth Magaziner (RI-02) Today Led 23 Democrats in a letter to President Biden Requesting an Update on the Administration’s Implementation of the National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism (the National Strategy). In their letter, which was endorsed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the NAACP, the lawmakers … Continue Reading
January 26, 2024
Ranking Member Thompson Rips Republicans for “Inept and Inappropriate” Impeachment Process Ignoring Past Precedent and Due Process
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Committee Chairman Mark Green laying out five key areas in which his committee has ignored past precedent and proper due process in its rush to markup an impeachment resolution of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas. This impeachment inquiry was not authorized by the full House. Secretary Mayorkas was not afforded any rights in the absence of an authorized … Continue Reading
January 25, 2024
Ranking Members Raskin and Thompson Call on DHS IG Cuffari to Cooperate with Congressional Investigation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) Joseph V. Cuffari renewing their call for his office to comply with Congressional requests for documents and information into the use of taxpayer funds to settle claims of retaliation against him. New evidence obtained by the … Continue Reading
August 29, 2023
Thompson, Ramirez, Carter, Magaziner Request DHS & FBI Briefing on Threats to HBCUs After Jacksonville Shooting
(WASHINGTON) –Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Vice Ranking Member of the Committee, Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Emergency Management & Technology, and Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement & Intelligence, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas … Continue Reading
August 09, 2023
Ranking Members Thompson and Ivey Request Hearing on DHS Inspector General
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Committee's Oversight, Investigations, & Accountability Subcommittee, sent a letter to Subcommittee Chairman Mark Green to request a hearing concerning the leadership and performance of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG), Joseph V. Cuffari. The Committee has been engaged in a longstanding investigation … Continue Reading
July 28, 2023
Ranking Members Thompson and Raskin Demand Information on DHS Inspector General Cuffari’s Use of Taxpayer Funds for Retaliation Settlements
(WASHINGTON) – Committee on Oversight and Accountability Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, and Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) Joseph V. Cuffari, requesting documents and details regarding his use of taxpayer funds to settle claims of retaliation against him. The request comes after the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) released a copy of the $1.17 million settlement … Continue Reading
July 24, 2023
Thompson, Ivey Transmit Evidence to Archives for its Review into DHS IG’s Destruction of Federal Records
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Committee’s Oversight, Investigations, & Accountability Subcommittee, sent a letter to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) providing evidence that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari may have violated Federal law by willfully destroying Federal records and not … Continue Reading
July 13, 2023
Ranking Members Raskin and Thompson Demand Answers from Coast Guard on Troubling Mishandling of Sexual Assaults at Academy
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Admiral Linda L. Fagan, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), requesting information on the USCG’s mishandling of allegations of sexual assault at the Coast Guard Academy (CGA) that severely limited the ability of survivors to seek and obtain justice. The letter follows a … Continue Reading
June 08, 2023
Thompson, Ivey Call on DHS IG Cuffari to Resign After He Admits to Deleting Federal Records
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Subcommittee, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari calling on him to immediately resign after he admitted Tuesday during Congressional testimony to a “normal practice” of deleting “business” text messages from his … Continue Reading
March 20, 2023
Ranking Member Ivey Requests Hearing on DHS Inspector General
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Committee's Oversight, Investigations, & Accountability Subcommittee, sent a letter to Subcommittee Chairman Dan Bishop (R-NC) requesting a hearing on the leadership and performance of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) Joseph Cuffari due to continuing concerns about his lack of accountability, transparency, and independence. Link to Letter # # … Continue Reading
February 21, 2023
Thompson, Swalwell, Magaziner Request Briefing on Threats to Critical Infrastructure from Domestic Violent Extremists
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, and Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, announced they have sent a request to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) and the Cybersecurity and … Continue Reading