Press Releases
Ranking Members Thompson & Magaziner Statement on Trump Administration Scaling Back Domestic Terrorism Focus
(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 and Intelligence, released the following statement on news reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has terminated 30 percent of the personnel leading the Federal government’s terrorism prevention work and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is scaling back staffing and … Continue Reading
March 21, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump Mass Firing at DHS Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Office
(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 almost the entire workforce of the Department of Homeland Security’s Civil Rights and Civil Liberties office: “With Trump's mass firing of the entire DHS Civil Rights and Civil Liberties workforce, he is ensuring in advance that there will be no transparency or oversight of his extreme agenda. Congress created CRCL in the … Continue Reading
March 20, 2025
Ranking Members Thompson and Kennedy Statement on Trump’s Emergency Management Executive Order to Hamper FEMA and Push its Functions onto the States
(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 joint statement below on President Trump’s latest executive order to push the responsibility of emergency management onto the states - regardless of their resources, funding, or expertise: “President Trump’s latest emergency preparedness executive order clearly has FEMA in … Continue Reading
March 17, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Reports Trump Administration Is Sidelining Rehired Cybersecurity Personnel
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement following news reports that the Trump Administration, as it follows the recent court order that fired probationary employees must be reinstated, has instead sidelined cybersecurity personnel at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) - putting national security needlessly at risk: “Firing cybersecurity personnel, then being forced to … Continue Reading
March 14, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Demands DHS Comply with Judge’s Order to Rehire Fired Workers
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement after a Federal judge ordered that fired probationary employees from 18 agencies - including the Department of Homeland Security - must be reinstated. Last month, hundreds of DHS employees who help keep our networks secure and help respond to disasters were mass fired without cause. “A Federal judge confirmed what we've known for weeks, DOGE's firing of … Continue Reading
March 10, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on FEMA Canceling Firefighter Trainings
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the Trump Administration canceling National Fire Academy firefighter trainings at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): “The Trump Administration suspending training for firefighters defies logic and is further evidence of the Administration’s lack of support to first responders. At a time when the effect of wildfires is impacting the country … Continue Reading
March 07, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on the Trump Administration Canceling TSA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem canceling the collective bargaining agreement for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Security Officers that keep our aviation system safe and secure: “The 65,000 men and women at TSA have been admirably - and thanklessly - keeping our skies safe and secure around the clock for decades. … Continue Reading
March 05, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on the Passing of Congressman Sylvester Turner
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the passing of Committee member Congressman Sylvester Turner (D-TX): “Today we mourn the loss of our colleague, Congressman Sylvester Turner. While Representative Turner was only with us as a Member of Congress for a short while, we got to know him as measured legislator and a team player. He was well respected on both sides of the aisle and was always … Continue Reading
March 04, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump’s Joint Address
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on President Trump’s joint address to Congress: “What we heard tonight was nothing more than the usual stream of endless lies and performative whining from a wannabe authoritarian. The American people can see right through it. “But I’m more concerned about what Trump didn’t tell the American people tonight. He didn’t tell the American people that he is … Continue Reading
March 03, 2025
Thompson Launches Website for DHS Personnel Fired by Trump to Share Their Stories
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, launched a new website for employees of the Department of Homeland Security and its component agencies who were fired by President Trump to share their stories. “With the Trump Administration wreaking havoc on the entire Federal workforce, it is critical for us determine the impact on our country’s homeland security,” said Congressman Thompson. “We need a Federal government that is … Continue Reading
February 28, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson: Trump Weakens National Security and Puts Our Critical Infrastructure at Risk as He Capitulates to Russia
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on multiple news reports that the Trump Administration does not view Russia as a cybersecurity threat: “I am deeply concerned by reports that the Administration does not see Russia as a significant cyber threat and is halting actions to counter Russian cyber activity. Every World Wide Threat assessment over the past decade has identified Russia’s cyber … Continue Reading
February 19, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump and Elon Mass Firing Personnel at FEMA
(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 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel: “While parts of the South suffered devastating flooding and lives lost this weekend, Donald Trump and Elon Musk were busy mass firing the people who help build back communities after disasters. A downright reckless and mindless act that will jeopardize the … Continue Reading
February 15, 2025
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