Press Releases
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Kristi Noem Buying Luxury Jets With Taxpayer Money During the Republican Shutdown for Her Personal Use
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem buying multiple Gulfstream luxury jets with $172 million in taxpayer money for her personal use: “Secretary Noem spending almost $200 million on multiple luxury jets for her to travel around the world for more photo-ops is wholly inappropriate. The fact that she’s doing it during a Federal government shutdown … Continue Reading
October 08, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson & Kennedy Statement on the Trump Administration Deliberately Withholding Billions in Recovery Funds Meant for States
October 8, 2025 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, released the following statement on reporting that the Trump Administration deliberately withheld $11 billion in FEMA disaster reimbursements meant for States to mask shortfalls in the agency’s disaster fund and avoid asking Congress for additional emergency funding. “Yet … Continue Reading
October 07, 2025
Ranking Members Thompson, Magaziner, and Correa Condemn Trump Administration for Diverting Counterterrorism Resources to Suppress Free Speech
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Ranking Member of the subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, and Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Border Security & Enforcement, released the following statement on news reports that the Trump Administration used a transnational crime and counterterrorism unit to secretly target people practicing free speech: “The … Continue Reading
October 02, 2025
Ranking Members Thompson, Kennedy Statement on DHS Delaying and Slashing Counterterrorism Funding for Blue States and Cities
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, issued the following statement condemning the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to slash millions in counterterrorism, law enforcement, and disaster preparedness grant funding for blue states and cities after delaying them for months: “The Trump administration is at it again: … Continue Reading
October 01, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Republicans and Donald Trump Shutting Down the Government While Lying About Immigrants
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump and Congressional Republicans forcing a Federal government shutdown - and lying about immigrants - instead of protecting healthcare for millions of American families. “Congressional Republicans and President Trump have shut down the Federal government because they refuse to negotiate on anything and are all too excited to jack up healthcare … Continue Reading
September 25, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump’s Missing in Action FEMA Head
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on media reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) ‘Acting’ Administrator was unreachable in the aftermath of the deadly Texas floods in July: “The tragic loss of more than 130 lives in Texas underscores the absolute necessity of swift and competent federal disaster response. The Washington Post’s reporting that David Richardson, the … Continue Reading
September 22, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump Incorrectly Designating ‘Antifa’ as a Domestic Terrorism Organization
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on President Trump’s Executive Order designating ‘Anifa’ as a domestic terrorist organization. “Designating Antifa - which has no defined organizational structure or leadership - as a domestic terrorism organization is not only incorrect, it serves no purpose other than an excuse for the Trump administration to stifle dissent, investigate anyone - or any … Continue Reading
September 19, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson: GAO Confirms DHS Breaking Federal Law by Failing to Distribute Grant Funds
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the U.S. Government Accountability Office issuing a determination that the Department of Homeland Security violated federal law when it withheld grant funds for states, local governments, and nonprofits: “The Government Accountability Office decision is clear: the Trump administration is in violation of federal law for failing to distribute funds to … Continue Reading
September 16, 2025
Dem Leaders of National Security Committees Respond to Second U.S. Military Strike Off the Coast of Venezuela
WASHINGTON) - Reps. Adam Smith (D-WA), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Jim Himes (D-CT), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security; released the following statement in response to President Trump announcing a second U.S. military strike off the coast of Venezuela. “Yesterday, … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Remembers 9/11 Attacks, Will Travel to Ground Zero Today
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks. Ranking Member Thompson will also co-lead a bipartisan site visit to Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City today. “Today we mark the 24th anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack in our nation’s history by traveling in a bipartisan capacity to Ground Zero and the 9/11 … Continue Reading
August 29, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump’s Dangerous Revocation of Secret Service Protection for Vice President Harris
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after reports that President Trump abruptly stripped former Vice President Kamala Harris of her Secret Service protection without justification. This unprecedented decision comes at a time of heightened political threats against elected leaders and raises serious concerns about retaliation and the safety of former officials. “Donald Trump suddenly … Continue Reading
August 28, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Minneapolis School Shooting
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the tragic shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis - and what must be done: “The school shooting in Minneapolis is a terrible and senseless tragedy and my prayers are with the victims, their families, and the people of Minnesota. Violence and hate have no place in this country. “To be clear, there is much the Federal government can do - and must … Continue Reading
August 15, 2025
Ranking Members Thompson and McIver Slam Secretary Noem for Living Rent Free in Waterfront Military Home
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, issued the following statement slamming Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over troubling reports that she is living rent-free in the official residence of the Coast Guard Commandant. "If Secretary Noem is living rent-free in military housing, she should be ashamed. Reports … Continue Reading
August 12, 2025
Ranking Members Thompson, Kennedy & Thanedar Blast Trump Administration’s Decision to Cancel Federal Employee Union Contracts for FEMA and Other Agencies
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, and Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations and Accountability Subcommittee, issued the following statement condemning the Trump Administration’s move to cancel union contracts for federal employees of FEMA and other agencies:"This decision shows that Trump … Continue Reading
August 11, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on the Trump Administration's Unjustified Federal Takeover of DC
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, issued the following statement on President Trump’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C.:“This unjustifiable power grab is nothing more than Donald Trump trying to crown himself king. Violent crime in D.C. hit a 30-year low earlier this year, according to the Department of Justice. If crime has risen since then, it’s happened under Trump’s watch. Instead of working with Mayor Muriel Bowser and … Continue Reading
August 08, 2025
Members of Congress Seek Court Order Allowing for Continued Oversight of ICE Detention Facilities
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Adriano Espaillat, Ranking Member Bennie Thompson, Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member Robert Garcia, and the plaintiffs in Neguse et al. v. ICE et al. asked that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia enter an order requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Secretary Kristi Noem, as well as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its Acting … Continue Reading
August 08, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Dangerous FEMA Staff Reassignments During Peak Hurricane Season
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on reports that the Trump administration is diverting FEMA personnel to support ICE raids and unlawful deportations: “Right in the middle of hurricane season, the Department of Homeland Security is once again gutting FEMA’s core capacity—this time to advance Donald Trump’s unpopular and inhumane mass deportation agenda. DHS transferring over 100 FEMA … Continue Reading
July 31, 2025
Joint Statement from Ranking Members Thompson and Magaziner on the Confirmation of Joe Kent as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, issued the below statement following last night’s Senate confirmation of Joe Kent as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC): “The confirmation of Joe Kent to be the nation’s top counterterrorism official poses a great risk to the integrity of our nation’s … Continue Reading
July 30, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Joins Lawsuit Against Trump-Vance Administration for Blocking Lawful Oversight of Federal Immigration Detention Facilities
Washington, D.C. — Today, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse led a dozen individual members of the U.S. House of Representatives in suing the Trump-Vance administration, challenging its unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight that the members have sought to conduct at federal immigration detention facilities, in which both Americans and noncitizens have been detained without due process. The administration has implemented a new, unlawful policy that blocks these Members of … Continue Reading
July 16, 2025
Republicans Reject Subpoena of Kristi Noem, Shielding Her from Answering for Her Multiple Failures
(WASHINGTON) - Today, during a performative Homeland Security Committee hearing put on by Republicans to attack religious organizations, charities, and non-governmental organizations - instead of conducting oversight of the Trump administration - Republicans rejected a motion to subpoena Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to answer for her many leadership and management failures. The motion was offered by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee. “In the past six … Continue Reading