Lawmakers who oversee the Department of Homeland Security say the company has repeatedly stymied their requests for info in latest months, with even some Republicans alleging they’ve had cellphone calls go unanswered and information requests left to languish.
As the Department of Homeland Security has discovered itself embroiled in controversies throughout the nation over high-profile killings by immigration brokers and the ensuing bitter coverage disputes, lawmakers say they’ve stepped up their efforts to attempt to get solutions for the general public. But they’ve typically been met with resistance, they stated — thwarting their capability to hold anybody accountable.
“I’m not going to sit here on bended knee hoping to God that somebody returns the call,” GOP Rep. Mark Amodei, the Republican who oversees the DHS price range within the House advised NCS, after his request to communicate with White House Border Czar Tom Homan went unanswered for days.
One Republican staffer advised NCS that the stonewalling extends past simply thorny coverage questions on immigration enforcement. Requests to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the standing of federal catastrophe funding and questions over potential crimes dedicated by these detained by federal officers have additionally been met with silence or evasiveness, the staffer stated.
The consequence, the staffer stated, will not be solely that GOP lawmakers can’t correctly oversee the company, they will’t assist blunt probably unfair assaults from their Democratic counterparts.
“It’s really a shame that DHS has taken such an adversarial posture on sharing data. In some areas, like on immigration and the border they have a great story to tell, and we could be helping them tell that story,” the staffer defined. “In other areas where the story is not so good, like FEMA, we could also help. But they choose to go at it alone, so it’s on them to defend, which is hard to do when no one believes a word they say or a number they put out. There is no trust and there is no way to verify.”
Democrats, in the meantime, say they’ve acquired just about no response from their inquiries to DHS. At least 15 letters despatched by members of the get together to the division have both been ghosted, acquired a cursory acknowledgement or got a non-answer, a Homeland Security Committee Democratic aide advised NCS. Another Democratic staffer advised NCS that when they’ve requested for particular FEMA updates, whether or not it’s on mitigation initiatives, staffing plans or briefings on numerous press releases, they’ve gotten no response.
A DHS spokesperson advised NCS the division works via “official channels” and would “not be litigating our relationship” with Capitol Hill via the press. But additionally they dismissed claims they’ve not engaged with members of Congress.
“Any suggestion that DHS has ‘refused’ to engage with lawmakers is simply false,” the spokesperson stated partially, including that “this administration has been the most transparent administration in history and has spent the last year clearing out congressional correspondence that went unanswered under the last administration.”
Some Republicans advised NCS they’ve been in a position to leverage their private relationships with Trump administration officials to get their questions answered and others stated they’d no points getting fast responses from DHS – “I communicate with them all the time,” GOP Rep. Andy Ogles stated. But two high Republican congressman particularly tasked with overseeing DHS are amongst those that say they’ve run into points.
Amodei, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, sought to communicate immediately with Homan concerning the operation in Minneapolis shortly after federal officers’ deadly encounter with Alex Pretti there, in addition to to obtain a broader standing replace on the administration’s deportation efforts.
Amodei’s workplace put within the request in January and was redirected to White House Office of Legislative Affairs Director James Braid to coordinate the dialog. The request went unanswered for 10 days, prompting the Nevada Republican to ultimately withdraw the request, Amodei stated.
The administration was targeted on executing the mission in Minneapolis on the time of Amodei’s request, an official stated when requested by NCS concerning the request, including that it may now be organized.
“At the time, we were prioritizing the actual execution of the mission in Minneapolis,” the administration official stated. “Now going forward, we’re happy to offer Chairman Amodei a briefing as well as other congressional committees.”
But Amodei, who projected confidence he’ll get the data one other means, instructed it was a query of respect. “I wish they were more professional with how they dealt with the people who handled their budget,” he advised NCS from his Capitol Hill workplace.
After withdrawing his preliminary request, Amodei has just lately spoken with Braid about arranging a name with Homan, the congressman’s workplace advised NCS.
Another Republican chairman — Rep. Andrew Garbarino of the House Homeland Security Committee — tried for weeks to schedule DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for testimony for the annual worldwide threats listening to earlier than his panel, and ultimately resorted to asking the White House in December to lean on her to agree on a date, in accordance to a US official acquainted with the discussions.
Noem lastly agreed to a listening to, the place she was excoriated by Democrats for her dealing with of immigration, FEMA and different points. The administration official declined to touch upon any coordination with Garbarino, saying they don’t focus on non-public conversations with members.
Garbarino stated on the eventual December listening to that he made “numerous accommodations” for Noem’s look.
“This is why this hearing is so important. Congress must hear from the Executive. Oversight is not unfair. And asking questions is not unwarranted. We must ensure the people’s representatives are informed,” the New York Republican stated on the time.
NCS has reached out to Garbarino’s workplace for remark.
According to a knowledge evaluation compiled by ProQuest Congressional Data and shared with NCS, there has been a 28.7% decline in appearances of DHS officials earlier than congressional committees in 2025, in contrast to the primary yr of earlier administrations.
Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, the highest Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, stated he’s by no means seen it this dangerous.
“I’ve never met Secretary Noem other than the two times she came before the committee last year. I’ve met every secretary since the department was created in my office or in a number of occasions,” Thompson stated.
The Mississippi Democrat stated that for a yr, he had not had any direct interplay with an ICE official till he met the director the day earlier than his scheduled listening to earlier than the committee earlier this month. Witnesses earlier than a listening to are required to submit their written testimony to Congress the day earlier than a listening to, however Thompson stated the ICE director got here to his assembly along with his ready testimony in hand and stated he was nonetheless engaged on it.
“If the legislative is to function, then the executive branch has to be forthcoming with the information. If they’re not forthcoming with the information, then it’s almost impossible for the legislative branch to basically provide any road maps for future success because we don’t have access to the data,” Thompson stated.