Republicans, Democrats accuse DHS of blocking oversight as frustration boils over: 'Really a shame'
WASHINGTON, DC: Lawmakers tasked with overseeing the Department of Homeland Security said that the agency had repeatedly failed to respond to requests for information in recent months, limiting Congress’s ability to conduct oversight.
The concerns come as DHS faces scrutiny over immigration enforcement operations and disaster response funding.
While some Republicans said that they maintained open communication with the department, others, along with Democrats, described delays and unanswered inquiries.
DHS disputed claims that it had refused engagement.
Republican lawmakers cite communication breakdowns with DHS leadership
Several Republican lawmakers said they had encountered difficulty obtaining information from DHS leadership, including from officials tied to immigration enforcement operations.
“I’m not going to sit here on bended knee hoping to God that somebody returns the call,” GOP Rep Mark Amodei said, after his request to speak with White House border czar Tom Homan went unanswered for days.
Amodei characterized the issue as one of professionalism. “I wish they were more professional with how they dealt with the people who handled their budget,” he said.
Rep Andrew Garbarino, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, also faced delays in scheduling DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for testimony.
After weeks of attempts, he sought assistance from the White House in December to secure a hearing date. Noem ultimately appeared before the committee.
“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,” Garbarino said at the hearing.
However, not all Republicans reported difficulty. GOP Rep Andy Ogles said, “I communicate with them all the time,” indicating that he had not experienced similar issues.
A Republican staffer said that communication challenges extended beyond immigration policy, including requests to the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding disaster funding and detainee matters.
The staffer said that limited access to information made it harder for Republicans to defend the department publicly.
“It’s really a shame that DHS has taken such an adversarial posture on sharing data,” the staffer said. “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… But they choose to go at it alone.”
Democrats report heightened DHS communication barriers
Democratic lawmakers said that they had faced even greater obstacles.
According to CNN, a Homeland Security Committee Democratic aide said that at least 15 letters sent to DHS received either no response, a cursory acknowledgment, or what they described as non-answers.
Rep Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, said that he has had minimal direct interaction with DHS leadership.
“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 on a number of occasions,” Thompson said.
He also said that for a year, he had not interacted directly with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official until shortly before a recent hearing.
“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 said.
