Correspondence
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
December 22, 2022
Thompson, Katko Urge TSA to Require CLEAR Passengers Have Identity Verified by TSA
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. John Katko (R-NY), Ranking Member of the Committee, sent a letter to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regarding security vulnerabilities related to identity verification processes for participants in the registered traveler program operated by CLEAR. In the letter, Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Katko urge TSA to immediately require all passengers, … Continue Reading
December 16, 2022
Chairman Thompson Writes Coast Guard on its Failure to Properly Handle Sexual Assault Case
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, regarding the Coast Guard’s disturbing failure to respond appropriately to sexual assault allegations made by a Coast Guard trainee, Mr. Ke’ha Maldonado, during his time in basic training at Training Center (TRACEN) Cape May in 2018. Mr. Maldonado bravely shared his story with the Committee as … Continue Reading
November 18, 2022
Chairs Thompson, Maloney Request GAO Conduct Review of the Federal Government’s Water Sector Efforts
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent a letter to the Comptroller General requesting the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study to evaluate efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify and assist water and wastewater utilities that are … Continue Reading
November 07, 2022
Thompson, Barragán, Grijalva, Castro Ask GAO to Review Reports of Border Patrol Not Returning Personal Property
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Committee on Homeland Security Chair Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Border Security, Facilitation, & Operations Subcommittee Chair Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), announced that they have sent a request to the Comptroller General asking the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) handling of personal property belonging to … Continue Reading
October 17, 2022
Chairs Maloney and Thompson Launch Formal Investigation into Mississippi Governor’s Distribution of Federal Funds for Water System Repairs in Jackson
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent a letter to Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves requesting information on how the state plans to distribute more than $10 billion in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including $429 million that was specifically allotted to … Continue Reading
August 25, 2022
Chairs Thompson and Clarke Demand Twitter CEO Address Whistleblower Allegations
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), and Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, & Innovation, sent a letter to Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal demanding the company address disturbing whistleblower allegations regarding poor security and privacy practices and explain Twitter’s preparedness for the 2022 midterm elections. Letter excerpts: American … Continue Reading
August 23, 2022
Homeland Security, Energy & Commerce Leaders Write Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Dirty Bomb Threat After Government Report Exposes Security Gaps
(WASHINGTON) – Today, bipartisan leaders from the House Committee on Homeland Security and House Committee on Energy & Commerce sent a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) urging the agency to take immediate action to address vulnerabilities in its oversight of purchases of radiological materials. Last month, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report that identified security gaps that could be exploited by terrorists and other bad actors to obtain … Continue Reading
August 16, 2022
Thompson & Nadler Send Letter Requesting Information on Government Purchase of Americans’ Private Data
(WASHINGTON) – Today, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and House Homeland Security Committee Chair Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) sent a letter to Attorney General Garland of the Department of Justice, Secretary Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security, Director Wray of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Commissioner Magnus of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Acting Director Johnson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Administrator Milgram of the Drug … Continue Reading
August 16, 2022
Chairs Thompson and Maloney Demand DHS Inspector General Comply with Committees’ Investigation into Handling of Erased Text Messages
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari demanding that his office comply with their requests for documents and transcribed interviews in the Committees’ investigation into potential mismanagement and misconduct in the DHS Office of Inspector General … Continue Reading
August 01, 2022
Thompson, Torres, Demings Inquire on Federal Government Response to Monkeypox Virus
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Vice Chairman Ritchie Torres (D-NY), and Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Subcommittee Chairwoman Val Demings (D-FL) sent letters to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the Federal government’s preparations for and response to the monkeypox virus. In their letter to GAO, the Members ask GAO to examine the … Continue Reading
August 01, 2022
Chairs Thompson and Maloney Release New Evidence on DHS IG’s Handling of Inquiry into Erased Text Messages, Renew Call for IG to Step Aside
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari renewing their call for him to step aside from the investigation into erased text messages related to the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, in light of new evidence obtained by the Committees … Continue Reading
July 26, 2022
Chairs Thompson and Maloney Call for DHS Inspector General to Step Aside from Investigation of Erased January 6 Text Messages
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari and Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Allison C. Lerner requesting that Inspector General Cuffari step aside and CIGIE appoint a new Inspector General to lead the ongoing … Continue Reading
June 07, 2022
Thompson, House Chairs, Congress Urge President Biden to Recalibrate Relationship with Saudi Arabia
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, alongside five Committee Chairpersons called on President Biden to further recalibrate the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, in light of reports that President Biden is considering a visit to the Kingdom in the coming months, and urged the president to forcefully advocate for a more balanced bilateral relationship that benefits everyday Americans and reaffirms … Continue Reading
June 02, 2022
Homeland Democrats Request Briefing on DHS Role In Responding to Uvalde Shooting
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Homeland Security Committee Democrats, led by Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to request a committee briefing on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) role in responding to tragic mass shooting Uvalde, Texas last week and what the Department plans to do, along with its Federal, State, and local partners, to prevent future tragedies. “While details surrounding the horrific … Continue Reading
June 01, 2022
Thompson, Watson Coleman Congratulate New Coast Guard Commandant as First Ever Female Military Service Chief
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Chairwoman of the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee, sent a letter to Admiral Linda Fagan to congratulate her on her swearing in as the new United States Coast Guard Commandant and first female ever to lead a branch of our armed forces. “You take the helm of the Coast Guard at a pivotal moment for our Nation as we combat … Continue Reading
May 10, 2022
Chairs Thompson and Maloney Request Information from DHS IG on Efforts to Conceal Department Employee Misconduct
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, requesting documents and information related to reported efforts by the Inspector General’s office to delay or conceal findings of domestic abuse and sexual harassment by DHS employees. The letter follows a … Continue Reading
April 28, 2022
Chairs Thompson, Watson Coleman Write TSA on its Plan to Address Rise in Guns at Airport Checkpoints After Member of Congress Again Caught by TSA
(WASHINGTON) – Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, sent a letter to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inquiring about its plan to address the dangerous and alarming rise of individuals bringing firearms to airport checkpoints after a Member of Congress, Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), was caught by TSA bringing a gun to a … Continue Reading
April 21, 2022
Chair Thompson, Vice Chair Torres Lead Bipartisan Letter to MTA Regarding Security Cameras in Wake of NYC Subway Shooting
(WASHINGTON) – Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Vice Chairman of the Committee, led a bipartisan letter to the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) following the New York City Subway shooting in Sunset Park, Brooklyn last week. After it was revealed that security cameras were not functioning on the day of the shooting, the Members request information regarding how the MTA uses funds it has … Continue Reading