Press Releases
Oversight and Homeland Chairs Issue Statement on DHS IG Report Confirming Findings in Joint Investigation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and Rep. Lou Correa, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, issued this statement following a report issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) on the U.S. Coast … Continue Reading
May 30, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Reports of Right-Wing Extremists Joining Protests to Sow Chaos
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on reports that right-wing extremists and white nationalists are joining protests to sow chaos and incite violence: "It is deeply troubling to see media reports and statements from state officials indicating that right wing extremists and white nationalists are joining protests across the country to purposely worsen tensions and sow chaos. I have asked the … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Trump’s Tweets Stoking Violence
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump's tweets last night that were flagged by Twitter for glorifying violence. "The President's late-night tweets were disgusting and dangerous. He will try again to walk them back, but the American people know what he did and Twitter is right to have flagged his tweets. He knew exactly what he was doing and did it on purpose. He took the … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Trump’s Social Media “Executive Order”
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump's Executive Order directed at social media companies: "It's a sad day when an Executive Order is used as a tool for political grievance after the President's ego gets bruised. Nothing in the Executive Order is about substantive policy and it is just another reflection of his failure to lead the country through the coronavirus pandemic. … Continue Reading
May 22, 2020
Thompson Statement on Extending National Guard Deployment
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Trump Administration sending mixed signals on the future of National Guard deployments to respond to COVID-19: "The Administration needs to stop sending mixed signals to our States that continue to need National Guard assistance to respond to coronavirus. Having a hard stop, just to shortchange National Guard members, does not help us combat the virus … Continue Reading
May 20, 2020
Thompson Statement on Trump’s Election Misinformation Threats
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement in response to tweets from President Trump lying about voter fraud and threatening to withhold federal funding for Michigan and Nevada if the states moved forward in expanding vote by mail. "This is misinformation, plain and simple. Apparently, the President does not understand how our democracy works and thinks he can inappropriately interfere in the … Continue Reading
May 20, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on $1.3 Billion Border Wall Contract
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news the Trump Administration awarded a $1.3 billion contract - the largest ever - for wall construction to a company, Fisher Sand and Gravel, that lacks the proper experience. The Federal government is still investigating the Administration's previous contract with the company. The Administration also did not announce the award. "If the Administration … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Thompson Statement on Reports TSA to Check Passenger Temperatures
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news reports that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may begin checking passenger temperatures at airports as soon as next week: "I cannot find any law that gives TSA the authority to perform temperature checks as reported. The health and safety of our Transportation Security Officers have already been put at great risk the past few months - … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Reports ICE Forcing Family Separation or Indefinite Detention on Immigrant Families
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is forcing family separation or indefinite detention on immigrant families. "Reports that the Trump Administration is finding new ways to separate families and treat immigrants inhumanely during this pandemic are a new low. The coronavirus pandemic cannot be used as a Trojan horse for the … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on National Police Week and National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on National Police Week and National Peace Officers' Memorial Day: "As National Police Week comes to a close and on National Peace Officers' Memorial Day, we honor the brave men and women around the country who serve to ensure the safety and security of our homeland, especially during these trying times. We also take the time to remember all of those who have … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Government Report Shows CFATS Program Must Be Strengthened
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the Department of Homeland Security's oversight of cybersecurity at high-risk chemical facilities under the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. The largely physical security program also includes cybersecurity as one of the standards that regulated facilities must adhere to. The … Continue Reading
May 13, 2020
FEMA Contractor Fails to Deliver N95 Masks by Deadline
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement upon confirmation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that it did not receive the delivery of 10 million N95 masks from a company with no relevant experience providing medical supplies or equipment. FEMA terminated the contract. "This is yet another example of a systemic problem affecting contracting at FEMA. As demonstrated during the 2017 … Continue Reading
May 07, 2020
Thompson: Secret Service Belongs in the Department of Homeland Security
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee introduced a bill to transfer the U.S. Secret Service from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the Department of the Treasury: "As I have said ever since the Trump Administration first floated the idea of ripping the Secret Service out of DHS, it is a bad idea that will not make … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Thompson Statement on White House Interference in Medical Supply and Equipment Distribution
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news reports that White House interference in Federal government efforts to distribute medical supplies and equipment had a clear negative impact: "The fact the White House, at Jared Kushner's direction, chose to put consulting and private equity firms in charge of emergency response and PPE distribution during a pandemic is truly mindboggling. It should … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020
Thompson, DeFazio Urge Trump to Approve Assistance for FEMA to Pay for Coronavirus Victim Burials
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, released the following statement urging President Trump to release funding for FEMA to pay for burial costs for victims of COVID-19. In past disasters, FEMA has paid these costs: "The current coronavirus pandemic has not only been the deadliest disaster the country has faced in over a century - it … Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement After Committee Briefed by FEMA Administrator Gaynor
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after members of the Committee were briefed by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor and Department of Health and Human Services Director of the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy Dr. Tammy Beckham on the Federal government's coronavirus response efforts: "We are eternally grateful for the thousands of women and … Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
Thompson Statement on Trump’s Dangerous and Incendiary Rhetoric
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after President Trump, while the country is facing a pandemic, spent the afternoon on Twitter egging on right-wing demonstrators who have protested against stay-at-home orders in states with Democratic governors. "The President's tweets this afternoon were incendiary on many levels. State and local leaders across the country-including Virginia, Minnesota, and … Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
VIDEO: Chairman Thompson Delivers Weekly Democratic Address
(WASHINGTON) – Chairman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi delivered the Weekly Democratic Address. In this week’s address, the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee discussed the urgent need for widespread testing, data on impact in communities of color and equipment for health care workers and first responders, as well as the Administration’s ongoing failure to adequately provide these critical resources for the American people. Video and audio of the … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
DHS Inspector General Amends Public Summary of Report on Child Death in CBP Custody After Shortcomings Identified by Chairman Thompson
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, received notice from Joseph V. Cuffari, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), that he had amended his office's public summary of a report examining the death of an eight-year-old Guatemalan child in U.S. Border Patrol custody in December 2018. Chairman Thompson has been sharply critical of how the Office of Inspector General (OIG) handled its investigation of … Continue Reading
April 10, 2020
Thompson Statement Marking One Year Since DHS Has Had a Permanent, Senate Confirmed Secretary
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement marking one year since the Department of Homeland Security has had a permanent, Senate confirmed leader. Since Kirstjen Nielsen left her position on April 10, 2019, the position has been filled by various officials serving in an acting capacity. "Our nation is in the middle of a pandemic, and the key national security agency charged with aiding our pandemic … Continue Reading