Press Releases
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump Mass Firing Personnel at DHS
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on President Trump mass firing hundreds of Department of Homeland Security personnel: “It goes without saying that Trump’s mass firing of at least 400 homeland security personnel will make the country less safe. Quite simply, we will now be less equipped to respond to natural disasters, harden our networks, and secure our seas. Just because an employee was … Continue Reading
February 07, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Elon Musk and DOGE Gaining Access to FEMA’s Sensitive Networks
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on President Trump allowing Elon Musk and DOGE access to FEMA’s sensitive data networks: “FEMA is an agency that communities across the country depend on when disaster strikes. Not only does President Trump have someone running it with no experience, he has now apparently given DOGE and Elon Musk - along with Elon’s unvetted minions with questionable pasts … Continue Reading
February 06, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump Attempting to Fire FEC Commissioner
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on President Trump has attempted to fire Federal Election Commission Commissioner and Chair Ellen Weintraub: “Donald Trump is methodically dismantling our democracy. He is firing every person with experience, expertise, character, and commitment to the constitution in order to replace them with mindless yes-men who will give Donald Trump and Elon Musk carte … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Introduces Resolution on Homeland Security Impact of Trump’s Funding Freeze
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced a Resolution of Inquiry directing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to provide the Committee documents related to security assessments associated with efforts to freeze payments of critical homeland security programs that, among many other things, support first responders, provide security funding to houses of worship, and provide grants for towns and cities to secure … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Introduces Resolution on DHS Impact from DOGE and Trump’s Hiring Freeze
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced a Resolution of Inquiry directing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to provide the Committee documents related to the impact of President Trump’s Federal hiring freeze on the cyber workforce as well as any of the security policies related to providing DOGE - including Elon Musk and his minions - access to DHS information systems and data. “Only two weeks since taking … Continue Reading
February 04, 2025
Joint Statement from Ranking Members Thompson and Magaziner on the Nomination of Joe Kent as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of House Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Seth Magaziner, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, issued the following statement on the nomination of Joe Kent as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center: “Joe Kent has twice been rejected from public office by the people of southwest Washington because of his extremism,” said Ranking Member Thompson. “Someone who has employed a Proud … Continue Reading
January 28, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump Suspending the Coast Guard’s Anti-Harassment Policy
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on President Trump suspending the U.S. Coast Guard’s Harassing Behavior Prevention, Response, and Accountability policy. “It is appalling that the Trump Administration has abruptly suspended the Coast Guard’s anti-harassment policy - a policy developed as the result of repeated incidents of sexual harassment, bullying, and retaliation. To make matters worse, … Continue Reading
January 28, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on the National Security Ramifications of Trump’s Extreme Funding Freeze
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on President Trump’s extreme Federal funding freeze - which will have disastrous ramifications for our homeland security: “I am glad that a Federal court has intervened and has stopped President Trump from implementing his reckless, illegal, and chaotic funding freeze. It was announced with so little detail it should never have been considered in the first … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Announces Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee Ranking Members and Vice Ranking Member
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement announcing the six Democratic Subcommittee Ranking Members and Vice Ranking Member of the Committee for the 119th Congress: “I am proud to announce the Democratic leadership of the Committee on Homeland Security for the 119th Congress. I am confident that each Member will be able to bring their diverse backgrounds and life experiences to the Committee as … Continue Reading
January 20, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump’s Border and Immigration Executive Orders
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on President Trump’s border security and immigration executive orders: “With this barrage of executive orders, President Trump wants Americans to think he is fixing the border - but he is doing nothing of the sort. His actions will hurt our communities, create unnecessary chaos, and cost American taxpayers billions of dollars every year. In true Trump … Continue Reading
November 01, 2024
Ranking Member Thompson, 36 Dems Introduce Resolution Condemning the Spreading of Disinformation and Malicious Rumors following Hurricanes Helene and Milton
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, led 36 Democrats in announcing the introduction of a Resolution (H.Res. 1555) strongly condemning the spreading of disinformation and malicious rumors that have led to threats against disaster response personnel, including FEMA employees, following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “It is inexcusable that many, including elected officials and candidates for office, have weaponized and … Continue Reading
October 03, 2024
Ranking Members Raskin and Thompson Call for Removal of Inspector General Cuffari Following Damning Report
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, issued the following statement after the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) released its report on the Inspector General (IG) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Joseph V. Cuffari: “In the wake of the independent and nonpartisan CIGIE Integrity … Continue Reading
September 24, 2024
Ranking Member Thompson Lauds Passage of Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s Cybersecurity Training Bill
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement lauding the passage in the House of Representatives of the DHS Cybersecurity On-the-Job Training Program Act (H.R.3208), legislation sponsored by the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) to improve the Federal government’s cybersecurity posture. “I am heartened that the House was able to come together in bipartisan fashion to pass Congresswoman … Continue Reading
September 13, 2024
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on DHS Designating January 6 a National Special Security Event
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security and former Chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, released the below statement on the Department of Homeland Security designating the joint session of Congress on January 6 as a National Special Security Event: “The January 6th Select Committee recommended that the joint session of Congress to count the electoral college certificates … Continue Reading
September 12, 2024
Ranking Members Thompson, Magaziner Release Statement on White Supremacist Terrorgram Collective Indictment
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement & Intelligence released the below joint statement on the Department of Justice announcing indictments of U.S. citizen white supremacists who led the Terrorgram Collective, which has been used to incite violence, solicit hate crimes, and promote terrorism. “We commend the … Continue Reading
September 11, 2024
Ranking Member Thompson Marks 23 Years Since the September 11 Attacks
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement commemorating the twenty-third anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks: “Today, we mark the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. After those attacks that claimed thousands of innocent American lives, we made a vow to ‘never forget.’ However, in today’s political climate, I fear that we have forgotten the heroism and sacrifice that … Continue Reading
July 20, 2024
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on the Passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the passing of longtime Committee member Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX): "Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s presence was unmatched. She was a fighter, an intellect, and above all, a force. Her constituents were not only the people of Houston; they were the disadvantaged looking for an opportunity, the destitute looking for a new start in our … Continue Reading
June 26, 2024
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Supreme Court Decision Murthy v. Missouri
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the U.S Supreme Court decision, Murthy v. Missouri: “Today’s Supreme Court ruling in Murthy v. Missouri confirms what we have already known— Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officials did not censor anyone’s speech. Instead, as Justice Barrett explained, ‘The evidence indicates that the platforms had independent incentives to … Continue Reading
June 04, 2024
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on President Biden’s Border Security Executive Action
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on President Biden’s executive action to restrict asylum at the border: “President Biden has acted in the face of Congressional Republicans cynically deciding to block bipartisan border security legislation. That being said, I am concerned about the impact of the Executive Order on vulnerable people coming to the United States for safety and protection. We … Continue Reading
May 28, 2024
Ranking Member Thompson, Committee Democrats Commemorate Border Patrol 100th Anniversary
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement commemorating the 100 “Today, we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. Border Patrol. It is important that we honor the service and sacrifices of the men and women of Border Patrol and their families, past and present. Since its creation, Border Patrol agents have shown commitment and dedication to safeguarding our Nation by securing … Continue Reading