Chairman Thompson Writes New Acting Homeland Security Secretary on Outstanding Document Request and Upcoming Hearing
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan reminding him of Secretary Nielsen’s commitment to come before the Committee on May 1. In the letter, Chairman Thompson also asked Acting Secretary McAleenan to produce documents still outstanding from a January 4, 2019 request related to the Department’s border activities, including its separation of families and border wall construction.
Letter text:
Dear Acting Secretary McAleenan:
Your appointment as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security puts you at the head of a Department experiencing unprecedented vacancies due to the misguided actions of President Trump and others in his White House. Today, the Department of Homeland Security’s more than 240,000 employees are looking for leadership in a time of uncertainty as they continue to work on behalf of the American people.
As Chairman, I intend to ensure the Committee on Homeland Security continues to fulfill its oversight obligations, which are more critical now than ever given recent developments at the Department and their effect on homeland security. Before she resigned, Secretary Nielsen accepted an invitation to testify before the Committee on May 1, 2019. I hope you will honor that commitment.
Furthermore, in January I requested Secretary Nielsen provide to the Committee documents related to the Department’s border activities, including separation of families at the border and construction of border wall. I still have not received the complete document production. I request that you provide the requested documents to the Committee without further delay.
Finally, I would note I remain concerned about the way President Trump circumvented the law dictating succession at the Department. That said, I look forward to working with you in your new capacity and having you testify before the Committee on Homeland Security on May 1.
# # #
Media contact: Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
Next Article Previous Article