Thu Nov 21 18:20:00 UTC 2024: **DHS Secretary Mayorkas and FBI Director Wray Skip Key Senate Hearing, Sparking Outrage**
WASHINGTON – The heads of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sparked outrage after skipping a crucial Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on Thursday. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Director Christopher Wray’s absence broke a 15-year tradition of annual testimony on national security threats.
Committee Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) called their refusal “a shocking departure,” arguing that the public deserves transparency about national security threats. He criticized Mayorkas and Wray’s assertion that sensitive information could only be discussed in a classified setting, deeming the claim “entirely without merit.” Ranking member Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) echoed Peters’ condemnation, calling the decision unacceptable.
Both the FBI and DHS offered similar justifications for their absence, citing extensive prior testimony and a preference for a classified briefing. The FBI statement highlighted the bureau’s commitment to congressional oversight and transparency, while a DHS spokesperson noted Mayorkas’s 30 prior testimonies.
The Senate hearing’s cancellation follows the postponement of a similar House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Wednesday. While a House source indicated initial plans for a classified briefing, these were ultimately unsuccessful. The hearings would have marked the first time Mayorkas and Wray testified before Congress since President-elect Trump’s reelection. President-elect Trump has pledged significant changes to both DHS and the FBI. The impact of this unprecedented absence remains to be seen.
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