Kristi Noem back on Capitol Hill after clashes with Dems

Obviously, is not without its challenges. Applying and implementing brick grants requires resources to many cities, states, and tribes that they may not have. But rather than ceasing to implement it, we should work together to identify ways that brick could be amended to be less complex and more efficient.

Madam Secretary, the people up here look forward to working with you and your team. We look forward to conversations about the president's FY26 budget for DHS. From what I've seen, I am personally supportive of zeroing out the shelter and services program, and I look forward to conversations about FEMA, CISA, and TSA. I hope that we will see requests for base increases to CBP, ICE, and elsewhere within DHS. You have an incredibly difficult job, Madam Secretary, and have stepped up to do it during uh one of the most challenging times. I want to thank you for your service and I look forward to your testimony today and to working with you and your team to making sure that America's borders are safe and its people are secure.

I now turn to Senator Murphy and recognize him for his opening remarks.

Thank you very much uh Madame Chair. Uh Madam Secretary, thank you for being here. I'm sorry that I missed your call yesterday. I look forward to working closely with you. Um, I say this with seriousness and respect, but your department is out of control. You are spending like you don't have a budget. You're on the verge of running out of money for the fiscal year. You are illegally refusing to spend funds that have been authorized by this Congress and appropriated by this committee. You are ignoring the immigration laws of this nation, implementing a brand new immigration system that you have invented that has little relation to the statutes that you are required that you are commanded to follow as spelled out in your oath of office. You are routinely violating the rights of immigrants who may not be citizens, but whether you like it or not, they have constitutional and statutory rights when they reside in the United States. Your agency acts as if laws don't matter, as if the election gave you some mandate to violate the Constitution and the laws passed by this Congress. It did not give you that mandate. You act as if your disagreement with the law, or even the public's disagreement with the law, is relevant and gives you the ability to create your own law. It does not give you that ability.

Let's start with your spending. You are on track to trigger the Anti-Deficiency Act. That means you are going to spend more money than you've been allocated by Congress. This is a rare occurrence and it is wildly illegal. Your agency will be broke by July, over two months before the end of the fiscal year. You may not think that Congress has provided enough money to ICE, but the Constitution and the federal law does not allow you to spend more money than you have been given or to invent money. And this obsession with spending at the border, as the chairwoman mentioned, has left the country unprotected elsewhere. The security threats to the United States are higher, not lower before than when before Trump came to office. To fund the border, you have illegally gutted spending for cyber security. As we speak, Russian and Chinese hackers are having a field day attacking our nation. You have withdrawn funds for disaster prevention. Storms are going to kill more people in this country because of your illegal withholding of these funds. Your myopia about the border, fueled by President Trump's prejudice against people who speak a different language, has shattered many of this country's most important defenses.

Now, let's talk about the empoundments. When Congress appropriates funds for a specific purpose, the administration has no discretion as to whether to spend or not spend that money unless you go through a very specific process with this committee. Let me give you two of many instances of this illegal empoundment. The first is a shelter and services program. Senator Britt may want to zero that account out, but that account is funded and it was funded in a bipartisan way. You don't like the program. Your policy is to treat migrants badly. I think that's abhorrent, but it doesn't matter that you don't like the program. You cannot cancel spending in this program and you cannot use the funds as you have to fund other things like ICE. You have also canled citizenship and integration grants which help lawful permanent res residents become citizens, helping them take the citizenship test. I know your goal is to try to make life as hard as possible for immigrants. But that goal is not broadly shared by the American public. That's why Congress in a bipartisan way for decades has funded this program to help immigrants in this country become citizens.

Now, let's talk about why encounters at the southern border are down so much. This is clearly going to be your primary talking point today. You will tell us that it represents a success. But the primary reason why encounters are down is because you are brazenly violating the law every hour of every day. You are refusing to allow people showing up at the southern border to apply for asylum. I acknowledge that you don't believe that people should be able to apply for asylum, but you don't get to choose that. The White House doesn't get to choose that. The law requires you to process people who are showing up at the border and who claim asylum. Why? Because our asylum law is a bipartisan commitment, an effort to correct for our nation's unconscionable decision to deny entry to Jews to this country who were being hunted and killed by the Nazis. Our nation, Republicans and Democrats, decided, wrote it into law that we would not repeat that horror ever again. And thus, we would allow for people who were fleeing terror and torture to come here, arrive at the border, and make a case for asylum.

Finally, let's talk about these disappearances. In an autocratic society, people who the regime does not like are people who are protesting the regime. They are just often picked up off the street, spirited away, sometimes to open-ended detention, sometimes they're never seen again. What you are doing both to individuals who have legal rights to stay here like Kilmargo Garcia or students who are just protesting Trump's policies is immoral. And to follow the theme, it is illegal. You have no right to deport a student visa holder with no due process simply because they have spoken in a way that offends the president. You can't remove migrants who a court has given humanitarian protection from removal. Now, reports suggest that you are planning to remove immigrants with no due process and send them to prisons in Libya. Libya is in the middle of a civil war. It is subject to a level four travel advisory, meaning we tell American citizens never to travel to Libya. We don't have an embassy there because it is not safe for our diplomats. Sending migrants with pending asylum claims into a war zone just because it's cruel is so deeply disturbing.

Listen, I understand that my Republican colleagues on this committee don't view the policy the way that I do. My Republican colleagues don't share my level of concern for the way that this administration treats immigrants. That's fine. But what I don't understand is why we don't have consensus in the Senate and on this committee on the decision by this administration to impound the spending that we have decided together to allocate in defense of this nation. We as an appropriations committee, we work interminable hours to write and pass a budget. This budget is really hard to write and pass. And so we make ourselves irrelevant when we allow the administration to ignore what we have decided. And then when we look the other way, when the administration rounds up immigrants who are here illegally and have committed no offense of worth no offenses worthy of detainment, we also do potential irreversible damage to the Constitution. These should not be partisan concerns. Destroying the power of Congress, eroding individuals constitutional rights. This should matter to both parties.

Madam Secretary, thank you for being here and I look forward to your testimony.

Madame Secretary, let me first explain that Chair Britt is trying to cover two different subcommittees. She will be returning but in the meantime has asked that I take the gavl and uh fortunately that means that I get to welcome you but also ask the first questions. Uh but first we want to hear your statement. So, please proceed.

Yes. Well, thank you, Senator Collins, and I do want to thank Senator Britt as well for uh bringing this group of individuals together for this committee hearing so that we could talk about the priorities of the United States of America and what we can do to work together to secure our homeland. I do want to thank Senator Murphy as well uh and look forward to our conversations that we can have today and far into the future. Um, in the first 100 days, the Trump administration has already delivered for the American people a drastic turnaround in homeland security from the southern border to uh investing in our coar our coast guard to cyber security and we are just getting started. I'm very proud of the accomplishments that we have made so far and working with President Trump and his leadership since he took office.

At the southern border, we have obtained near total control with a 95% decrease in daily encounters since President Trump took office. March saw the lowest number of encounters in this nation's history at less than 7,200. Uh there were days in there where we had less than 200 encounters a day, which is absolutely remarkable. And again, that is the lowest number of encounters at the border in this nation's history. Under the previous administration, when Joe Biden was the president of the United States, US border uh Customs and Border Protection was at times encountering over 15,000 people per day. This astonishing turnaround is a testament to the resolve and to the leadership of President Trump to make America safe and to the incredible work of the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security. The Secure Border has allowed Border Patrol to zero in on the cartels and on illicit activities that are going on. President Trump has designated six different cartels and violent criminal gangs as foreign terrorist organizations. This has allowed us to use a whole of government approach in how we go after drug traffickers and human traffickers. And in March, fentanyl traffic at the border fell by 54% compared to the previous year. We're enforcing immigration laws to identify, arrest, detain, and remove dangerous illegals uh from our country. We're prioritizing those who have committed crimes. Aliens who are a threat to our public safety and to our national security, especially those who are affiliated with terrorist organizations such as Trendai Ara and MS-13. This includes those who also have final orders of removal.

We've worked to enforce President Trump's America First Trade Agenda through the US Custom and Border Protections Enforcement. The Biden administration's policies hollowed out our economy and America's industrial base, and it shipped our jobs overseas. President Trump is changing that. His historic actions are proving that tariffs are an effective negotiating tool to address trade imbalances. And in fact, companies are reshoring jobs here every single day. The Department of Homeland Security is reforming and we're rethinking federal involvement in emergency management. President Trump recently announced that there will be a FEMA review council, which I will co-chair with the Department of Defense Secretary. This council is charged with fixing a broken system uh that's returning power to state emergency management directors and making America safe. We're also taking steps to defend the nation's transportation systems which are vulnerable to targets and to attacks. The Transportation Security Administration is responsible for ensuring the security of all those who travel. In a single day, there are over 45,000 flights in this country with nearly 2.9 million passengers in the United States. We're fulfilling our obligation to launch Real ID, which happened yesterday, and we follow federal law as it was passed 20 years ago. Validated IDs will secure travel, safeguard our elections, and make sure that we never uh open a door to an opportunity for another tragedy like 9/11.

Again, as technology advances, so do the threats to our nation. And that's why cyber security is a crucial component in of our security measures we're taking seriously. and investing in going forward. Countries like communist China have built the capability and the intent to infiltrate and potentially disrupt our critical infrastructure. But despite these threats, the Biden administration instead used SISA to play politics and to police speech. Under President Trump, we've been working to get SISA back on mission and make sure that they are securing our infrastructure. The Coast Guard is the only branch of the US Armed Services Services that are under the Department of Homeland Security. It has many missions with specialized needs. And as we secure the southern border, the cartels have shifted their activities out to the maritime borders. The Coast Guard has already surpassed fiscal year 2024 drug interdiction numbers and search and rescue and illegal introduction interdictions. Still, the Coast Guard is facing our greatest readiness challenge since World War II. With Force Design 2028, we will transform the Coast Guard to make it a more agile, capable, and responsive force. And since I took office, one of the responsibilities that I have is reforming the Secret Service. In the wake of the July 13th assassination attempt, we have needs there that I'm hoping you will consider. We've reassessed the Secret Services needs. We've refocused recruitment away from DEI objectives and instead focused people in on investing in the AY's zero fail mission.

These accomplishments are just a portion of what the Department of Homeland Security has achieved with President Trump's leadership in the last 100 days. And with the support of this committee, I'm hopeful that we'll be able to make this department more efficient and more effective in securing our nation. I'm so grateful to the men and women of the department, and they are examples of bravery, patriotism, and dedication. It's our responsibility to continue providing them with resources, training, and equipment that they need to do their jobs. Thank you so much for your support, for the opportunity to be here, and I look forward to the discussion.

Thank you so much, uh, Madam Secretary. I'd like to first recognize Chair Collins for her round of questioning.

Thank you very much, Madame Chair. Madame Secretary, I want to bring to your attention an important issue that may not yet be one that you've been briefed on. In August of 2023, DHS issued a memo in which the department stated that it had identified more than 270 Chinesebacked illegal marijuana operations in the state of Maine alone, producing up to an estimated $4.3 billion in illicit revenue. venue. These grow houses are primarily run by Chinese organized crime syndicates with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Our sheriffs and local law enforcement have worked night and day to shut down these growh houses that tend to be located in very rural areas of the state. I hope that the president's more detailed budget requests includes funding that can be used to help supplement the county, state, and local law enforcement efforts. DEA has also been involved. IRS has been involved. The FBI is starting to get involved, but DHS obviously has an important role to play. So, I hope you will commit today to joining this all of government effort to shut down these dangerous illegal growouses. Undoubtedly, there's human trafficking going on as well. Uh, the marijuana is destroying these houses with black mold because it's grown inside to try to hide what is going on and it's being smuggling smuggled to other states. This isn't just a problem in Maine. Some 22 states have similarly found uh these illegal grow operations with ties to transnational criminal organizations in China.

Well, thank you Senator Collins. I appreciate you bringing this to my attention and this important discussion. Uh, obviously we're very concerned with securing our border and knowing who's coming into our country illegally, but also who's already here. Uh, and so you pointing out the fact that we have investments in this country, businesses, um, and marijuana growhouses that have a presence of ties to the PRC is incredibly alarming. So, I agree that we should work together to see what we can do. As you know, the Department of Homeland Security, our mission is to secure the homeland. I tell people quite often that my responsibility lies with everyone who's in this country, comes into this country or leaves, every product that's here that leaves or comes in. Um, and then everything on the internet as well that's communicated or processed. Um, this is alarming that we have China not only are they um stealing our IP, manipulating their currency, um, but they're building a presence in this country as well. And so everything that we can do to make sure that we're addressing that and not allowing them to to get a foothold within the center of our country and in our important states like Manner is incredibly important. So, thank you for for bringing it to the attention of everyone today and I commit to working with you.

Thank you, Madam Secretary. As you undoubtedly know, Maine is a great destination for tourists. Uh, last year we had 14.8 million tourism visits. We're a state of only 1.3 million people. I imagine it's similar to some of what you've experienced when you were governor. So Maine is heavily dependent, particularly our hospitality industry and our agricultural employers, on seasonal temporary workers from other countries who come here under the H2A program for agricultural workers and the H2B programs for hospitality workers. There's no way that our state of 1.3 million has the workforce to deal with the influx of tourists and to get our crops out of the out of the ground. Um, our small businesses, our ins, our restaurants, and our hotels are perfect examples of where foreign nationals who come to our country temporarily to benefit from but also contribute to the American economy in a lawful well way are absolutely critical. I know that some of the visas um have been released by the department and I would ask for your help in expediting the release of the H2B visas in particular given the upcoming tourism season.

Thank you for that question, Senator. And um, you know as you know the the number of visas allowed is set in statute um by Congress but there is some latitude given to the secretary. So I certainly take your request and know that many others have asked us to go and give as much latitude as possible and we are certainly considering and and willing to consider that going forward. Thank you. My time has expired, so I'm just going to put one quick item on your radar screen. And that is we're seeing some college students from Canada who go to school in northern Maine at the University of Maine at Prescy having difficulty in crossing the border, which they used to be able to do very easily. They're totally legal. They have student visas, but they're being subjected to extensive searches and questioning. I don't want us to discourage Canadian students from studying at the Northern Maine institutions that we have for education. So again, I just want to put that on your radar screen. Um, there are so many others who do deserve scrutiny, but these are duly enrolled Canadian students and uh, they've been crossing the border for years without trouble and lately uh, they're being subjected to extensive searches and questioning despite um, having their visas and other documents in order.

Okay, I will certainly look into that. Thank you.

Thank you, Vice Chair Murphy.

Thank you very much. Um, Madam Secretary, uh, AI is an enormous growing industry critical to the future economic health of the country. We have had the benefit over the years of the top talent in AI, researchers, students coming to the United States uh, to help us grow that industry. Um, but for the first time in the last 15 years um, there are more topt talented individuals and workers in AI leaving the country than coming here. And the reason is pretty simple. Um, people who are coming here to work from overseas through the visa program are very uncertain about what their rights are. Um, and that is because of the actions this administration has taken. So I think it's important to get on the record uh, for those individuals who are here currently and those thinking of coming to the United States to work or to study to understand what their rights are. So let me ask you a a a series of of of pretty simple questions. Um, the probably the the key of right uh amongst the five freedoms is the right to free speech, the right to express your own personal opinion about politics, culture, the economy. Do you believe that you have the right to detain or deport a US citizen for simply expressing their political opinion?

A US citizen? No.

No. Do you believe that you have the right to detain or deport a legal permanent resident for expressing their political opinion?

I don't make decisions on legal status here in the United States. The Department of State does that. And I would say that as they've gone through an evaluation of who gets a visa, who gets legal status, green cards, uh, they've been evaluating and discussing um, how that applies.

Well, I I acknowledge that you don't I acknowledge you don't make but if someone is a legal permanent resident of the United States. I'm not talking about an H-1B or a student visa holder. I'm talking about a legal permanent resident. If you are a legal permanent resident, do you have the right to detain or deport that person simply for expressing their political opinion?

The uh, Department of State makes those decisions.

Department of Homeland Security. You make that you make that decision about who you have the right to detain or deport. So do you you are involved in that. Do you believe the United States, do you believe the law allows the Department of Homeland Security under the Trump administration is enforcing the law, following the constitutional rights of folks who are here as citizens, those who are here legally and those who are here illegally. So a legal permanent resident is by definition here legally. Do you believe I I mean I think this is really troubling if you can't answer this simple question. Do you believe that the US government can detain and deport a legal permanent resident for expressing a political opinion that the depart that the administration disagrees with?

The determination you're asking for is based on uh, things that you are determining that the secretary of state has considered and evaluated. We don't evaluate that the administration along with the partnership with the department of state on what is political speech and what's an affiliation with a foreign terrorist.

Do you do you believe that's the difference between that you're asking that you can detain the directional permanent resident for expressing a political?

We have not detained or we have not deported anybody who's a legal permanent resident or citizen of the United.

Then say you don't have the ability to do that. Clarify that for the millions of.

That is exactly what I'm doing is that we have followed exactly what the law is and that we have not detained or deported anybody who's a citizen or has legal status in this country. We are focused on the worst of the worst dangerous crime.

You do not believe you have do not believe you have the ability to do that.

We have not done that at all and the Trump administration has no plans.

Well, just because you haven't done it doesn't mean that you won't do in the future. You believe you have the ability to do that.

We are doing the exact appropriate thing in partnership with the Department of State and in partnership with the Trump administration.

Have you read the I I assume you have read the Supreme Court uh decision in the case of Kil Margo Garcia?

Yes.

Um, that um court decision requires the administration to facilitate uh Kilmargo Garcia's release from El Salvador. Can you describe the steps that you have taken uh to facilitate this release and specifically can you answer as to whether you have reached out to your counterpart in El Salvador to facilitate uh Mr.O Garcia's release?

Greco Garcia is a citizen of El Salvador and should never have been in this country and will not be coming back to this country. There is no scenario where Garcia will be in the United States again. If he were to come back, we would immediately deport him again because he is a terrorist. He's a human smuggler and he is a wife beater.

Does does the you've read the Supreme Court decision. Does the Supreme Court decision not require you to facilitate the return of Mr. Obrego Garcia?

The Trump administration is complying with all court orders and judges orders.

Does does the does the Supreme Court order require you to facilitate the return Garcia?

Garcia is a citizen of Al Salvador. It is up to the president of the Al Salvador to make the decision and I think it's coming back. It's been a big topic of conversation between all of us, between the country. When the president visited the United States of America, it was discussed and talked about there. The president has been very clear on this issue as the secretary of state uh and I have as well. Abrego Garcia is not a citizen of this country and is a dangerous individual who does not belong here.

I will I will end I will not ask another question. But the discussion, we would immediately the discussion ends when the Supreme Court rules 90 that you have to facilitate his release. And the fact that you can't even acknowledge the the wording of the order which commands you to facilitate his release and you advertise to this committee that you are going to willfully ignore the ruling. And that is incredibly chilling for the balance of powers in in a democracy that relies on the executive branch to honor decisions made by the highest court of the land.

Madam Secretary, um I I'd actually like to take a little bit of my time real quick to turn to an actual uh Maryland resident. And I believe if we're going to spend that much time talking about um Mr. Abrego Garcia, we need to talk about Rachel Moren. Y and she was a citizen of Maryland who was brutally raped and murdered in 2023 by another criminal illegal alien from El Salvador who had no business being in the United States. May her story and others like it serve as a reminder to the human cost of unchecked illegal immigration policies. The need to secure our border and the need to swiftly remove criminal illegal aliens from the United States. Speaking of, let's go back. Take a look at what President Trump inherited. We talked about this earlier, but when Joe Biden took office, there were 3.3 million people on the non-detain docket. When President Trump took office, that number had risen to 7.6 million people on the nondetained docket. When you look at the docket, the President Biden in his administration spent their entire term simply allowing people and aliens to cross the border into our communities. Of those who had been given their final orders of removal, meaning they had their due process, the Biden administration simply sat on their hands instead of actively working to remove those individuals, which created chaos and unfortunately criminal opportunities on our interior. Thankfully, we have new leadership at the White House and a department who will no longer tolerate the subversion of our immigration laws and activities. I think since we're here to talk about the budget today, that's what I'd like to talk about. What do you and your department need? The brave men and women who serve alongside you in order to secure our border, in order to keep our interior safe from coast to f coast, um, and to continue to make America a safe, secure, and prosperous place to be.

Well, the Department of Homeland Security is tasked with overseeing 23 different components uh that are pretty broad and it was formed after 911 uh in response to the terrorist attacks to help us secure our country and everything that's in the interior of our country. Uh, the president's budget request along with reconciliation package focus on what some of our greatest threats are that face our future and our children and grandchildren's ability to grow up here and to have a future. And that is continuing to secure our border uh to make sure we're addressing technology needs that have been neglected for far too long. Get our Coast Guard to the standard to what the missions are requiring them to be at to be successful. Um, building more wall, more agents for CBP, more ICE agents and beds so that we can remove illegal criminals out of this country and dangerous individuals that are threatening our public safety. And then also going forward and looking at how we conduct operations on training our law enforcement officers, how we can put SISA back on mission at focusing on cyber security. Uh, the requests going forward uh focus in those areas and TSA uh so that we have the technology upgrades that we need to really make sure that we are doing due diligence to secure our our country and the systems that help run our critical infrastructure.

I really appreciate that as you have those resources this country safe on that. Um, your predecessor actually refused to call what was going on at the border a crisis. Uh, it is clear that's exactly what was happening. You also have shown that coming and we did not need any new legislation to actually secure the border. You have taken action. President Trump has taken action to secure it. I mean, creating a space that we haven't seen in decades. You've talked about a number of things. One of the things you just mentioned was a border wall. Can you talk about the construction of a border wall and what that would do for the men and women of CBP and overall DHS?

I know that we are a nation of immigrants. We're proud of that. We're also a nation of law and lawlessness has to stop. And I believe that anybody on this dis that locks their door at night should understand the need for a border wall. The American people uh should have that level of security when they go to sleep at night. So can you talk about the importance of that and kind of how you see that unfolding? The we have currently over 700 miles of border wall um on the southern border and infrastructure that is there um operating today. Since President Trump has been in office, we've constructed another 77 miles that is in place. That is an inclusion of steel ballard wall that has been built, but also temporary um walls that has been put forward uh with concertina wire and panels. And then also we have um some waterborne um buoys that are being utilized as well. We have 11 contracts that have been allocated to continue building infrastructure and then also five more that are pending to be allocated to build more miles to have that infrastructure there to help secure vulnerable areas. Now, the the border wall will look different based on what the topography is and the geography is of the area. So, there's some areas on the northern border and the southern border and out in our maritime uh infrastructure that we need that will have technology. Um, it'll utilize um aerostar systems, radio frequencies, satellite systems. Those upgrades just simply haven't been made or prioritized under the last administration and need to be done. So we will use a combination for what's appropriate out there for the topography and working with the local states um and tribal areas to make sure that it's something that secures our country, but also is something that they can help support and secure as well.

Thank you for that commitment, Vice Chair Murray.

Thank you very much, Chair Britt, and I look forward to working with you and ranking member Murphy in this Congress. Um, Madam Secretary, as Senator Murphy mentioned in his opening statement, Secretary Gnome, under your leadership, we have seen you ignore our appropriation laws, our Constitution, common sense, and even basic humanity. And like a lot of Americans, I really have been horrified by the lawlessness and incompetence and cruelty that we have all witnessed. And for all the talk about going after criminals, you have sidetracked DH DHS staff who are investigating drug dealers, terrorists, human traffickers, and rather than photo ops, we need more of your focus on providing basic diligence because your crackdown has roped in American citizens and people who are here legally with no criminal record. Now, I'm not going to ask you whether that was right or wrong. Um, I know it's wrong. The world knows it's wrong and I think the first thing the history is going to say about your leadership is that you are responsible for many of these travesties. So I'm deeply concerned. You've deported a four-year-old US citizen with cancer. You've disappeared people to a notorious prison in El Salvador and you have spent $100 million in taxpayer dollars to air TV ads thanking President Trump. That is really reckless. It's unacceptable and in my opinion can't continue. The American people are paying for this with our taxpayer dollars and with their most basic rights.

Now, in the last three months, you have frozen or cancelled over $100 billion in funding that was approved by Congress bipartisan. We are talking about everything from disaster relief to grants that keep people safe. But when my staff has requested information on the status of this unacceptable holdup, the department failed to provide any any acceptable justification. This illegal freeze, and it is illegal, is taking a real toll on communities who are waiting on the investments that Congress has delivered. So, will you commit to immediately unpausing these funds?

Well, Senator, thank you for covering a lot of topics there. Let me touch on a few of those right away. What the Trump administration is doing is enforcing the law for the first time under the Biden administration.

I'm asking you about the funds. Illegal aliens were prioritized over American citizens. Now the scales of justice have been leveled and no one is better than anyone else. Citizens are treated the same and there's illegal aliens and criminals are being previously.

I'm asking you a specific the grants that you are referencing. The grants that you are referencing have been paused and re-evaluated to make sure that they are truly being spent in the way to which they were appropriated. Many of these grants were being diverted into things they were never intended.

These funds were passed on a bipartisan basis by members.

Absolutely. And the Biden administration perverted them in how they used them. Diverted them to facilitate illegal immigration to house people in places like the Roosevelt Hotel who held illegal criminals took about Hundred victims here and lost their children because.

Madam Secretary, it is not credible. Madam Chair, it is not credible that a hundred billion dollars is used to break the law. That's that just cannot be true. And let me change this a little bit on the other hand. I am very concerned that DHS is now dramatically overspending funding that Congress has not provided. If you were a CEO doing that, I I don't think you'd be in your job long. We need accountability and we need answers and that includes informative responses to oversight questions sent to the department over the last three months. I am ranking member on this committee. I have worked with every member of this committee. We take our responsibility serious to fund your department and others. We need to have answers. We need to have accountability and we need to make sure you're not overspending money that you were not allocated.

Well, thank you for that question. I will be very clear in the fact.

Do you want me to respond?

Well, you can.

Well, I've I've worked many many jobs in my life, but I also have been a CEO. I've run businesses. I've been a governor.

Credentials. I'm talking about your spending. We are prioritizing. Where our security needs are in this country. And we we are hoping that this body will agree that reconciliation is necessary to address the things that have been neglected in this country for too long. That we have the technology upgrades, the manpower upgrades that are necessary. So the $170 billion request for the Department of Homeland Security.

Madam have a couple of additional questions. The fact is that you've not been given this funding. Saying that it's going to come in reconciliation that has not passed is not an acceptable answer. Um, I did want to ask about FEMA and disaster relief. This is really important. Um, a lot of disaster relief has been politized. You've endorsed eliminating FEMA outright. We have seen an upheaval at FEMA that is going to put lives in jeopardy. One in five FEMA employees have been pushed out um taking this administration so-called buyout offer. We are losing indispensable staff just weeks away from fire and hurricane season and over hundred billion dollars in res disaster relief and FEMA grants are still being held up. Um, DHS is making it a lot harder to qualify for relief, something people in my home state of Washington are experiencing firsthand. Um, multiple um requests from governors have been rejected in recent weeks, including a request from our state. Um, and we haven't been given any response about this. And I'm watching this and I'm thinking, has President Trump directed you to prioritize funding for Republican states?

Absolutely not.

Have you directed your staff to prioritize funding to Republican le states over Democrat?

Absolutely not. Under this administration, there will not be any politicization of support, relief, FEMA assistance, or grants given based on politics. Every single person will be treated the same.

Very different. Madam Secretary, there's a clear trend of Republican le states getting very fast responses and funding. Democratled states are being forced to wait. We have never treated FEMA as a partisan issue in this country.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Senator Capido.

Thank you, Madam Chair and Ranking Member, and it's great to see you, Secretary Gnome, and it was a pleasure to serve with you in the House for so many years. Um, I just want to make a statement in the beginning because this chart which you can't see but many of us have seen the blue lines being the number of people that uh were coming across the border during the Biden administration and then the red is what you and the president have done over the last three months. I say congratulations results speak loudly. Not only are migrant uh encounters down 95% but the gotaways are down 99%. Uh, to put it simply, migrants are just not slipping through. They're not evading our border patrol. I boil it down to two basic strategies that the administration has done that the previous administration could have done but totally ignored. One is deterrence. When when possible illegals look to the United States and see that we are following through on deportation uh orders in in in larger numbers, I think that's a huge deterrence along with other things that are occurring. The other one is enforcement. Enforcement of the law. You already just said that. So, is there anything else you would add specifically very shortly that you can attribute this dramatic drop? You're being accused of breaking the law and that's the reason the numbers are down. I personally don't believe that.

Well, I think having a strong leader in the White House that says we will enforce our laws in this country has worldwide effects. In fact, um, in where I have traveled to countries in El Salvador, Mexico, and Colombia, their leaders and their government said, "When you talk about the fact that you are now enforcing the laws in America, when your president talks about it, when we see these ads that are running in our country, saying if you want to come to the country and and America illegally, don't come uh, come the legal way, do the right way. We are now enforcing our laws." They say it has an overwhelming effect. In fact, in Mexico, um, some government officials when I was there visiting with them and the president said that they believe 500 to 600,000 people just in Mexico turned around before they ever got to our border in the last three months because they got the message clearly when they were on their way. They heard that and they went back home. Also, I would say Border Patrol is thrilled. They get to finally do their jobs, right? They get to finally The morale has never been better. Recruitment is fantastic. ICE um is recruiting. CBP is up 54%. I'd say the Coast Guard is up over a 100% in recruitment and the Secret Service is up over 200%. So, the fact that they have an administration that's letting them do their jobs again and actually following the law is something they're very proud of. And so, I think those two things are really what's making them proud.

Okay. Uh, I you and I talked about this on the phone uh because of the drug scourge the non-intrusive uh inspection which is a lot of the technologies that can um detect in large uh when semis are coming through there's a whole lot coming through the border and we want to continue that free flow of goods. Uh, where are you on that in this budget? Certainly you need more dollars to be able to I think the numbers are low. How many you actually inspect or have been inspected? You need the technology. Our ports of entry need new technology and scanners that we just simply aren't um scanning many shipping containers right now adequately. Our a lot of our air freight isn't uh scanned. Uh, some of these scanners that we have in place need infrastructure around them so that they work in the heat and in the rain. Sometimes they're dysfunctional and and shut down. We have railroad um cars coming in that aren't getting inspected. And then small packages um small packages every day that are being shipped in uh by the millions. Uh, that we are not uh inspecting at all. So the kind of technology needs that we have to invest in are costly but they're secure our country and when we have an foreign enemy country like China and the PRC that's trying to kill off our next generation of Americans which is what they're doing to weaken our economy and our society. Uh, those uh upgrades and that technology advancement will incredibly help us make sure that we know what's coming into this country and it's not a poison that will be killing our kids and our next generation. Certainly have my support with that. Uh, I did chair this subcommittee at one point with the ranking member we were he was chairing and I was ranking. So we we're getting to know each other very well. We you have my support there. I do want to say and uh, I I am concerned about the FEMA issue. Uh, coming from a small state that is subject to a lot of national natural disasters, flooding in in most cases, uh, FEMA, my experience with FEMA, has it been flawless? Has it been uh, you know a smooth road? No. But I think it's a vital function and I can I'm concerned if we turn it all over to the states capacity for the state to really handle this is something that so I would ask you to tread lightly. I don't really need a response there, but I do want to put on the record here that I am concerned about. Uh, I do think we need a n a national response to disasters. Does it look just like FEMA? I hope uh, you know, I hope the changes that are made, we'll be able to have them to be able to um, react quickly and to help our state and local resources. I did invite you to the advanced training center where we do training for Border Patrol. Look forward to seeing you there and thank you very much.

Thank you so much, Senator Capido, and thrilled to hear about the morale at DHS. That's exciting, Madam Secretary. Um, next up, Senator Shane.

Thank you. Um, thank you, Madam Secretary, for being here this morning and for your testimony. I I just want to I'm not going to ask you to respond to this, but just to be clear, I think everybody on this committee agrees that we need to secure our southern border. We may disagree on exactly how to do that, but I think that is a value that most Americans share. Um, I do think we can do it in a way that still provides due process to people who are um, here as green card holders. Um, and I'm particularly concerned when I get calls from New Hampshire citizens who are stopped at our border and interrogated without any um, process, without being told why they're being stopped. So, I just want to put that on your radar so that you understand that that is a concern that we are seeing um, and hearing from American citizens about. Um, I have been concerned for a long time um, through numer a number of administrations about the lack of technology on our northern border in New Hampshire. We have video cameras that are supposed to pick up um, people coming across the border and there's no s service to those video cameras because we don't have cell service on our northern border. Um, our border patrol station in Pittsburgh gets its power from Canada. Um, and in 2018, Congress passed the Mobile Now Act to speed up deployment of communications equipment, infrastructure, um, on federal property. It's not just, um, a public safety issue. It's a national security imperative, as I'm sure you would agree. So, um, understaffing, however, and red tape means that getting folks connected still takes way too long. And we've had some issues with the department in trying to get some of this equipment that we need on our northern border. So, will you commit to ensuring that DHS will move expeditiously to improve communications infrastructure along New Hampshire's northern border?

Yes, Senator, I will work with you on this. This is something that's come up several times um, with many of our senators in in Congress, men and

Women on that represent the northern border. And I think that's a concern I hear quite often from people is with all the focus on the southern border, you know, are you neglecting the northern border? Um, and we are not. We have not pulled resources from the northern border, but we also recognize that we've got deficiencies there, too. We do have some predator drones that are up there.

I'm sorry to interrupt, but um the reality is that the Stone Garden funds that used to have a percentage dedicated to the northern border have been taken for the southern border so that our local law enforcement officials don't have the ability to access those funds and to get those grants in a way that's really important to help. So, I hope you will look into that. Those those funds have been very important for our law law enforcement. And so those are being re-evaluated as well and assessed and and so I've had several people indicate to me um that those are important to their local areas and local communities.

Um, the cameras you talked about yes do need to be fixed. The the cell phone service and their reliance on that is not dependable and we need the new technology upgrades in order to make sure that we can keep those operating and we need more UAS and counter UAS technology at the northern border as well.

Um, I understand that ICE has entered into an inter agency agreement with the Bureau of Prisons to hold ICE detainees in our um, federal prison in Berlin, FCI Berlin, New Hampshire. Um, I'm sure that you're aware that the Bureau of Prisons has faced chronic shortages in staffing for a number of years. This is particularly evident in Berlin where it's being staffed at just over 60% for its corrections officers and now it's hosting more than 230 detainees. So, can you talk about how you're working to ensure that um our federal prisons who are under contract with ICE are adequately staffed? And will you commit to ensuring that uh the Bureau of Prisons um under contract with ICE is given the support that they need in order to hold those detainees?

Absolutely. That's all part of the evaluation that happens before that contract goes into place um is making sure they have the staffing and the requirements that meet the level that ICE detention requires. U many times the request we hear from local or state law enforcement or prison systems that want to help facilitate the detention of illegal criminals uh such as we're addressing right now are asking us to relax our federal standards so that they qualify are asking us for more latitude. So, our standard I was just there. I can tell you they were not asking that number. They may not have been up at your facility. Um, but what I would say is that all of those um boxes have to be checked and staffing requirements have to be met in order for that contract to be facilitated and utilized.

Well, what I heard is that we have trouble attracting people um corrections officers, other staff that we need um psychologists and medical staff. And so it's I think it's absolutely critical that we ensure that if ICE is going to use those facilities that the funding is there to provide adequate staffing. Absolutely. Thank you.

I have a um another issue and I'm out of time, but I just want to put on your radar screen that we um appropriated $200 million to recapitalize facilities for the Coast Guard. One of those facilities that was damaged in storms is in Newcastle, New Hampshire. It's a facility that serves the Portsouth Naval Shipyard. Um it's critical to national security. I hope you will work with us to ensure that the funding um goes to help uh rebuild those facilities that need it.

Yeah, we'll we'll certainly take a look at that. As you know, we've proposed um a new investment and future for the Coast Guard called Force Design 2028. And so we're excited about that because it recognizes the deficiencies that the FO Coast Guard has had to live with for far too long. It adds 15,000 coasties um to the force. It also addresses not just cutters and not just airframe, but also um infrastructure um what we need for buildings and for docks and for abilities to ports and infrastructure to really facilitate what they really provide for us. Um they are also a key part of not just search and rescue, but also our interdiction efforts right now as well. And we're not keeping up with the cartels out on the water. I'm a big fan. And I just don't want us to divert that funding. Right. Thank you.

Right, Senator Hyde Smith. Thank you, Madam Chairman. And I certainly want to thank Madam Secretary for being here today and so impressed with the way you have just taken off so quickly and leading this agency. You know, as a member of this body, as an American, but as the mother of a 26 year old daughter, I certainly appreciate what you're doing to secure our homeland and uh your commitment has just been unsurpassed by anybody and I've I've watched you closely and it's a tall drink of water. Heading this agency is no small task, but I am certainly supporting you.

I would like to briefly mention the proposed reductions to the FEMA budget. You know, in Mississippi, we have hurricanes, we have tornadoes, and FEMA has been a part of my life ever since I have been in public office because of the situations. Even Senator Shaheen was part of our tornado one time last year in Mississippi. And we had some recently that hasn't been approved yet. uh little town in Walththal County, Mississippi called Tylertown, Mississippi had a tornado. I was there the day after the storm and we are really seeking some relief there. But how will DHS make sure that states like Mississippi, which like I said are feeling the impact of so many will continue to receive the support they need to prepare for and recover from what we have now and future emergencies.

Yeah, President Trump has been very clear that he believes that the way that FEMA exists today should not continue. It needs to be reformed. It needs to empower states to build in the structure that they need to best respond to disasters. He's seen the failures over the years of of FEMA, how it didn't show up for individuals. It targeted people based on political party. um it claims that haven't been paid for 15 to 20 years and recognizes the best responders are those locally and that the federal government should be there to support. So his goal is to um redo this agency in a way that empowers our states recognizing that every state's not at the same level of response uh today that it's going to take some effort to get them all ready to really truly take over the emergency management processes of their state. And so what we can do to equip and to train them and then give control back locally is critically important. Uh also the grants that have come through FEMA making sure they're not being abused to facilitate illegal immigration to focus on true resiliency on true helping building dams and infrastructure culverts that are the right size instead of using them for bike paths and shade trees like the Biden administration does. So you making sure that the dollars that we have in this agency which consistently is spending in the red um and not able to be budgeted for because of what happens um he wants to make sure that those reforms are happening where states are empowered to do the response and trained and equipped uh and and then the federal government would come in and support them and financially um be there when they need them on their worst day.

Thank you. Because there's many days we really need them and Mississippi also has a proud legacy of supporting DHS missions across multiple domains from helicopters flown by the coast guard and the CBP to the national security cutters and future polar security cutters built in Pascula, Mississippi. So our state plays a central role in helping secure the homeland. But what I would like to highlight today is a wonderful program at Mississippi State University that supports DHS. And as you may be aware, DHS Justice NextGen program at Mississippi State serves an incredibly valuable resource. And the primary mission of this is to serve the operational entities within DHS through research, development, testing, integration, and the evaluation of UAS, the unmanned aerial systems and related technologies to that. But um the justice program has credited MSU with a number of developments that have enhanced the technology and the efficiency for the operational components. So we're real proud of that. But as we look ahead, I hope that you will view justice as an important effort and do you have any thoughts on these programs or similar programs?

Yeah, the justice program is uh very important and is being continued um going forward and we recognize the partnership that we've had um with so many states in these projects. So, um that is something that Department of Homeland Security is um very willing and able in the future to partner with you. Well, it takes so much to make these things successful, but uh we're really proud of that and again, thank you for everything you're doing. You are doing an incredible job and I am thrilled that you were there. Thank you.

Senator Van Holland. Uh thank you. Thank you, Madam Chairman. Um, Madame Secretary, um, it's good to see you. Good to see you, too. And I was glad to see in your recent testimony that you reaffirmed your obligations to uphold, uh, the Constitution of the United States, and I understand you had an exchange with Senator Murphy on the Abrago Garcia case. Uh, and so I'm just going to put the question directly to you. Are you or DHS doing anything to comply with the 9 to zero Supreme Court order to facilitate his return to the United States? Just yes or no.

This administration is following all federal court orders. Mr. President's prerogative on conversations that happened with the president of El Salvad, you know, we have a limited amount of time. I just asked you, Madam Secretary, whether or not you or the Department of Homeland Security are taking any action to facilitate the nine to nothing Supreme Court decision to facilitate his return. This is a very simple question. Are you taking any action to facilitate his return or are you not?

This administration is following and complying with all federal court orders to make sure that that we So you are facil so because the court order that you facilitate his return. So you are facilitating its return.

Sir, Senator, thank you for the question. But what I would tell you is that we are following court orders and that uh your advocacy for a known terrorist is alarming to me. Madam Secretary, alarming to me because he's a human smuggler. Madam Secretary, I'm going to have to reclaim a terrorist and he's not a US citizen. He's a citizen of El Salvador and he's home. If he were to come back, Madam Secretary, we would take him immediately.

All right. I'm going to have to, Madam Secretary, you should know a couple facts then, which is number one, in 2019, the immigration court said that he should not be returned to El Salvador because it would put his life in danger. The Trump administration at the time did not appeal that decision. After that, he got a work permit and was working legally in the United States of America. This is also why the district court and the appellet court and the supreme court have ruled as they have. I suggest that rather than make these statements here that you and the Trump administration make them in court under oath because despite what you just said, the federal district court whose judge is hearing this case right now said, and I'm quoting that the administration has provided no evidence linking Abrao Garcia to MS-13 or any other terrorist activity. I'm not I'm not vouching for the man. I'm vouching for his due process. No madam secretary with respect suggest that you defend and stand alongside the victims of illegal political rhetoric. Citizens who live here and are United States Americans. I would suggest you advocate for them as Madam Secretary. I I I know you're doing a political speech here. I get it. I'm asking questions of law.

No, you're you're just you're I truly believe this. I believe this rhetoric. Let me ask you this. Do you do you agree? Do you agree with Justice Scalia in the Supreme Court opinion in Reno v. Flores that I'm quoting, it is well established that the fifth amendment entitles aliens to due process of law in deportation proceedings. End of quote.

This sir, we are utilizing every due process tool that this Congress has afforded us. The Congress decides what process is appropriate for every situation. Expedited removal is a due process that you have afforded us that we are utilizing. The alien enemies. I'm going to reclaim my time. Madam Secretary, you are giving damages and giving using the tools madam secretary Congress has given us. This is really, you know, I'm asking sort of simple questions of law and simple questions like are you complying with the nine to nothing Supreme Court decision and you seem to think that's some kind of trick question.

Let me ask you this. you were down at at SECOD uh in in El Salvador and you said and uh that I'm quoting it is one of the tools in the toolkit that we will use and it's well known that the Trump administration is paying uh the government of Al Salvador to uh keep these individuals including those who the US courts have determined um were illegally taken out of the country in violation of their due process rights. Have you seen the the the grant document between the United States and the government al Salvador with respect to uh the SECOT?

It's important that everybody knows the consequences of what happens for their actions in this country. When you break the law and you're a member of a foreign terrorist, I ask you a question. Have you seen the document? This is not hard.

Yes, I have. Okay. And what what are the provisions of the doc? So, do you know who what entities in El Salvador are receiving the bonds? Sure. who can see this document as well and have looked at it for evaluation. I'm glad you raised that, Madam Secretary, because I sent you a letter along with many of my colleagues here on April 8th asking for among other things that document. Will you respond to the letter that we sent?

I will respond to your letter. Thank you. Can I get some sense of when uh we will take a look at I don't remember seeing your letter yet, but I will certainly look there. The senator's time has expired. Madam Chair, Senator Kennedy. Madam Chair, I need a little help from a chair that respects the members of the Madam Chair. I'm sorry. This is You pretty much secured the southern border, haven't you? Yes, sir. The CBP that upsets some of my colleagues, doesn't it? They say you've done it the wrong way, haven't they? Could you answer that? Yes, sir. They do say that. Do Do you think they're upset because you supposedly did it the wrong way or you think they're upset that you did it at all?

I think they're upset that by President Trump enforcing the law, it happened so quickly and successfully. Yeah. Now, when President Biden came into office, the first thing he did was get rid of all of the things we were doing to stop people from coming into our country illegally, didn't he? Yes. I mean, he it was like the price is right, come on down, except he said, "Come on in." Um, and mo mo most of my Democratic colleagues went along with that, didn't they? Yes, they did. In fact, they cheered him on, didn't they? Is that a yes? Yes, sir.

How many people do you think President Biden let into our country illegally? Just give me a ballpark figure. Sir, we don't know for certain, but we believe it could be upwards to 20 million people that have are illegally in this country. So, so that's like adding 10 Nebraskas to our country, isn't it? That's correct. Um, why why do you think President Biden and my Democratic colleagues did that? You think they believe in open borders?

I think they believed in open borders and um letting people come into this country that would affect our society and criminals. Uh those other countries emptying out the worst of the worst, their mental institutions, their prisons came in here and jeopardized and known terrorists. Well, well, only one or two circumstances are possible. Mhm. It seems to me either President Biden and the Democrats who supported him believe in open borders or the people that President Biden put in charge of securing the border you wouldn't trust to run a snowball stand. Right. That is correct. So nobody is that incompetent. So it has to be they just believe in open borders, do they not? Yes. Because I know the people who were securing the border and they weren't allowed to do their job.

Do you think they believe that vetting people at the border is racist? Yes, I do. I think by the way they allowed people in and granted them immediate parole stat. Do you think that President Biden and and some of my Democratic colleagues, I don't want to paint with too broad a brush, Madam Secretary, thought of these foreign nationals in our country illegally as potential new voters? Mhm. I do, sir. Okay. Um, if you're if you're an ordinary American and you oppose illegal immigration, but you support legal immigration, does that make you a racist? No, sir. No, sir. Not at all. It just means that you believe there should be a rule of law, and that's what America was built on. And that's what you've been enforcing, right?

Exactly. We have been following the Constitution and the rule of law in this country. And I want to be sure I understand because there's been a lot of confusing testimony here. You've secured the border, have you not? This administration has. Yes, sir. And some of my colleagues are upset with you. Yes, sir. And they say you did it wrong. Yes, sir. And do you agree with me that what they're really upset about is that you did it at all? Yes, sir.

Okay. I I want to ask you a last question about uh our federal judiciary. I've said repeatedly that all of us has a moral and a civic obligation to follow federal orders and I stand by that. Uh but there have been a lot of na of national injunctions, universal injunctions issued um to try to try to uh stop you from doing your job. Where were you where were these judges when people were breaking the law and coming into our country illegally? Were any of them speaking up and issuing national injunctions against the Democrats?

I don't believe I can be specific about every single judge, but these judges that now are trying to stop us from enforcing our laws, I don't believe or recall them. Can can you think, Madam Secretary, of one single solitary federal judge who when President Biden and my Democratic colleagues, not all of them, but many of them, gentleman times expired were well se or or Senator Murray went on over about two minutes, so I'm going to take a Senator just got shut down. If you can if you can if you can finish your question. Um, do what do do you can you recall one single solitary federal judge when President Biden and my Democratic colleagues were letting 20 million people come into the country illegally?

I don't recall. Can you think of one single solitary judge that issued a national injunction stop them? No, I can't recall one. I can't either. If it weren't for double standard, Madam Chair, there wouldn't be any standards at all. Madam Secretary, thank you. Senator Kennedy. Senator Peters, I I mad, let me just let me just say, let's apply the rules fairly. Senator Van Galand was asking tough questions, but was shut down pretty immediately when his time was expired. Um, can we at least have a commitment, Madam Chair, that senators on this committee will be allowed to submit questions for the record and that you will Yes, absolutely. Ask the secretary to answer those questions. Absolutely. Yes.

Senator Peters, thank you, Madam Chair. Secretary, good to see you again. Um, Secretary, I certainly appreciated your commitment during your confirmation hearing before uh my committee on fully staffing the Gordy How International Bridge between Detroit and Canada. As you know, one of the busiest border crossings in all of North America. It's scheduled to open uh this fall. It's going to be a big deal. But my question for you is how are preparations going for the opening of that bridge? Uh obviously uh your department will play a big role in in that opening. Yes. Um we're excited about it. We're thankful that the construction has been completed and that it's um working well and we're um excited to coming up there and having the celebration with you. Do you have the resources and personnel in place now? Yes, we do. Good.

I also appreciated your commitment to fully building out the Northern Border Mission Center which will be located at Selfridge Air National Guard Base to coordinate all that goes along goes on along the northern border. Uh how is the uh buildout of that center? up progressing, please. It's going it's going well. It's on track. I haven't heard of anything that has been delayed and I can get you a more detailed update though if you would like one. I would if we could follow up uh uh after this uh hearing, I would appreciate that.

Um, as uh as ranking member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, I have sent you nine letters uh since you have been sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security. So far, I've uh received only two replies. Uh and quite frankly, one of those was completely unsatisfactory. Uh and while I understand you've had a busy start, that you have a lot on your plate, including uh travel, uh responses to congressional oversight requests, uh are a priority, and I I think you hold that view, but we're not seeing it being demonstrated, unfortunately. So, my question for you is when can I expect responses to these uh letters, and can you commit to getting me responses? Certainly before our budget hearing before his guy coming up.

Yes, absolutely. Sir, I um was unaware that you had that many letters out yet. I know some of the letters you requested had a lot of data to gather and information and so that may be to delay on a couple of them, but we will get those gathered uh and get them to you. As you know, when I came into this um role, we had a backlog of letters from senators and congressmen up to four years where the previous administration did not respond to any of you. That was a universal complaint I had from Republicans and Democrats. Well, we want to see that change. So, if we can get this back these letters back as quickly as possible, I'd appreciate that. I bet.

Uh, as you know, uh, Madam Secretary, Congress spent years creating SISA, uh, clarifying its mission and ensuring that the agency can employ the most skilled federal employees to protect our federal cyber networks and critical infrastructure from attacks. Uh during your confirmation process, you you stated uh that you wanted to get SISA back on mission, but uh quite frankly, you were very light on specifics of what that actually meant. Uh now that you've been in your position for uh for several months, could you explain to us in detail what getting SISA back on its mission means? uh and I mean with some specificity which offices and programs in SISA do you consider to be off mission and which ones do you consider to be on mission?

Well, as you know SISA um over under the last administration got involved in being somewhat of the role of the Ministry of Truth. They were defining what was misinformation, disinformation. They were out um doing election security missions with were um censorship and deciding what was truth and what wasn't truth and we have eliminated those functions uh within SISA. SISA was created to be uh an entity that supported small and medium businesses and also critical infrastructure, our electrical grid, our water systems in uh that are vulnerable to hacking attempts and influence from foreign countries but enemies of the United States of America. So we are and I agree with all this. I just limited time here. Yeah. Uh I agree with all that and that is the the central focus that it has to continue. But I want to clarify because you talked about misinformation. I've heard this a lot. Certainly I I don't want to have any agency putting out misinformation. But SISA had had 15 full-time employees uh assigned to countering misinformation mission. That's 15 employees out of 3,000 employees that work at CISA. And my understanding, and I think you mentioned it, those 15 people are not doing that anymore. So, is SISA still not on mission? Uh, is it still it's getting there. We don't have our Senate confirmed uh leader of SISA yet. We're looking forward to that. And the president, but that doesn't have to do with mission. I mean, where why is it not why is it not performing a mission? Because my frustration is why is why is what not why do you say it's off mission? Uh if the unit that was doing that is gone.

Yeah, it's back on mission, but we still have silos to break down between our intelligence agencies. We still have communication systems that have to be built so we can share information. I shared during my confirmation hearing that one of the most alarming things to me that happened uh to learn was that when Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon happened that we knew we'd been hacked, we knew who we'd been hacked by, but we had no idea how to stop it. And so building those relationships with the private sector to help us go out there and really um get the information that we need to get the technology and expertise to get in front of uh those bad actors that would infiltrate our systems I think is incredibly important. So making sure that we have those partnerships to get them part with us sharing information and advice and wisdom on how to stop these hackers before they steal our critical information is is very very important. If you you know better than anybody um better than I do even that we have 10 of the 16 critical infrastructure components under the Department of Homeland Security. So this is a top priority of President Trump. So it is on mission now. This is on mission. It is great. Thank you. Thank you Senator Peters.

Senator Marowski. Thank you u Madam Chair and welcome Secretary. Um, I know you had an opportunity to to take take a quick trip up to Kodiak to see our uh Coast Guard men and women there. Uh, thank you for that. Um, uh, I'm pleased to see the focus from the administration with regards to the Coast Guard um, uh, within the reconciliation package. It is significant. It is meaningful. As I'm looking though at the the the the skinny budget that we have here, I'm I'm wondering whether or not the administration's budget request increases the Coast Guard's topline because as as important as it is to do what we're doing in reconciliation, we want to make sure that the service has the sustained funding and support that it deserves in annual appropriations. So, I don't know if you want to speak quickly to that.

Well, yes, Senator, uh it is. We're building out the Coast Guard into the future. We have a request in for 15,000 more uh individuals that would come in and be a part of the organization. Uh so it's not just the investment in the cutters which we discussed. Um as well as you know airframe that's been grounded because it needs to be replaced and we can no longer repair it. Um it is also building out um the amount of support that we have as far as individuals and components.

I want to ask about uh not just not just the ships uh the the cutters the the uh airframes but but the people and and where those people live. Um it was several commodants ago. It was commonant zunk um who who promised that Kodiak uh Seward um Sitka Ketchacan they were going to get these fast response cutters. Well, the F FRC's are out there, but what hasn't come through is the shoreside infrastructure upgrades. Sitka and Seward continue to be left hanging. And so, the ships that were due to come to them are being parked in in other communities. I mean, we are we are not only one year off, two year off, multiple years off. So, this is something that I have raised with you and I'm hopeful that we're finally going to be able to make that commitment to make sure that when you've got the when you've got the ships, you've got the homeport, right? And when it comes to the homeport, I think you saw in Kodiak, it's not just the housing, it is the child care, it is the it's the medical options. And so I'm hoping that as we're looking at this this revitalization of the Coast Guard that is so overdue and I so appreciate the focus that the administration is placing on this that it really is this whole package. Right. Yes. Absolutely. And when on force design 2028 I'll get you the details on that so you can see that that infrastructure is being addressed. And that was one of the things that was discussed quite extensively when I was up there with the coasties and folks that were serving was how challenging it was to be in a remote area not have the access to basic needs that they have for their family as well especially medical care and specialized medical care. So it is it is big. So I'm glad you you had an opportunity to see that.

I want to shift here um uh with regards to parole and temporary protected status. We have a a relatively significant population of immigrants in Alaska that are under patrol or or or TPS or both. Um they're small, but for us they're meaningful in our communities. It's the Ukrainians, uh we have Afghanis, uh Venezuelans, we have some Haitians. Um the majority of these folks are just truly valued members of their new community. They're helping us meet workforce needs and and really contributing to the tax base here. um they've expressed great concern about their status and work authorizations um that may be revoked or allowed to expire. So USCIS hasn't processed reparoles, TPS renewals or work authorizations for for the Ukrainians at least for almost five months. And the the concern is they have they have paid the fees to USCIS to process their applications and yet they're not seeing any any action on this. Can you share with me share with the committee um any information on on when this pause might end? Um there are so many that are concerned that the um the the work authorizations will expire while they're waiting for this process.

Yeah, we do have several countries that have been evaluated by the administration on their participation in TPS. Um, and the program as it was established was meant to be utilized on a temporary basis. So, some of these TPS um programs have been in place for many many years. Um, but the evaluation on why TPS should be utilized and when it can be utilized by a country is the process that the administration's going through. So, if it's a a conflict, uh environmental, economic concern, something that's going on, and you talked specifically about the Ukrainians, uh as well, I I will say, um, that that program is still there and being evaluated. Um, but those folks may have gotten um an email or something that was not correct and was rectified. Mhm. Uh so I know some folks were alarmed by that that they received, but we did rectify that and that was sent out if their legal status had changed. You know, it certainly did not apply to them and we communicated that with them as well. Um, the one thing I will say is that anyone who is on a program like this or on parole that has been revoked always has the opportunity to apply for asylum as well. Um, and so that is um the application that we are forwarding in many of these instances across the country from different countries that interact with us through these different programs. And again just just the timing of an expiration of the work uh authorization while they're waiting. So as much information as you can share with us and I'm sure other states as well. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you very much. Uh Senator Van Holland. Thank thank you Madam Chair. Madam Secretary, I'm going to ask you about something I hope we can agree on. Um, are you familiar with the US Fire Academy? It trains about a 100,000 firefighters from around the country. Yes. So, right now, uh, as you may know, it's not being funded. All the in in-person um, classes have been cancelled. So, uh, I together with some of my colleagues, including, uh, Congresswoman April Mlan Delaney, who represents that district in Congress, uh, wrote to you back on March 14th about the situation there. I would just ask, could you commit today to responding to our Yeah, I letter. I I believe we did respond even if it may have just been recently to you, but um those grants and programs um are being facilitated and uh those dollars will be forwarded. So um that is something that if I didn't get that back to you, um we will get it to you within 24 hours.

Well, that would be some good news to come out of out of the hearing because we really have not heard a heard a thing. I'm reading from a headline, Trump officials silent as firefighters lobby to reopen training academy in Maryland. This is a an article from yesterday. So, if you're bringing good news today that we're going to renew funding for the National Fire Academy, uh that is the direction that we are taking and uh we will get that information to you. Thank you. Yep. Thank you, Madison. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Senator Van Holland. Senator Hagerty. Thank you, Madam Chair, and um Secretary, it's great to see you again. Great to see you, too. Um I really want to thank you and President Trump for and all the men of the Border Patrol and ICE for the incredible amount of work that has gone on in a very short period of time to secure the border. It's made a huge difference in my home state. It's going to continue to make a difference, I'm certain, and I very much appreciate your efforts to bring these illegal aliens to justice as well. President Trump promised to deliver the most secure border in American history, and the two of you have delivered on that promise. Encounters at the southwest border are down 95%. And under the Trump administration, getaways are down 99%. Congratulations on that. The Trump administration has ended the crisis that the previous administration created at the southwest border, and you've done it, frankly, in a matter of weeks. My colleagues and certainly President Biden argued that we needed new legislation to address the situation at the southern border. I think what you've demonstrated is that was absolutely not the case.

I'd like for you, if you would, Secretary Gnome, to paint a picture for us. How was it your first day when you arrived at the agency? Um what what sort of state of affairs did you walk into? I want the public to understand uh how poorly managed the situation was that you've taken on.

Well, Senator, thank you for the question. I would say that overwhelmingly it was a night and day difference as soon as President Trump was sworn into office because immediately the message was sent out to everyone who worked in the Department of Homeland Security um that we were now going to enforce the law in the United States of America, that we were going to be able to let people do their jobs, which had been so frustrating for so many of our CBP and ICE officers and those who partnered with them. uh they felt as though they had been facilitating an invasion of our country and the fact and they grew up in these communities. Many of these officers were raised in Del Rio and El Paso and Tucson and they were you know just devastated by what the change they had seen. So the fact that they got to do their jobs again was overwhelmingly I believe why this was a success in securing our border, knowing who comes into this country um and stopping those who shouldn't. President Trump, what I'm uh proud of is that he has removed 252 known terrorists from our country um just since he's been in office. Thousands of criminals and illegal aliens that have perpetuated violence on our communities. Um and I think the employees and the officers that are a part of the Department of Homeland Security are proud to be a part of the solution that's making America very safe again.

Can I stay with a comment that you made or a term that you used, invasion? Yes. Because what we saw over the prior four years was the largest invasion of our country that we've ever seen. It was I don't think the American public understands this because it was obiscated in the media. But could you just break down for us and explain to us how the Biden administration facilitated the invasion of over 10 million people illegally entering this c country in four years?

Yeah, absolutely. their lack of enforcement of our laws and their policies facilitated people being welcomed into our country, telegraphed around the world that come to America. The borders are open. When you get there, someone will give you asylum. You'll be protected. We'll give you housing and food and medical care, free medical care, billions of dollars spent by taxpayers to give them more advantages than what the average United States American citizen gets. um that was uh very clearly telegraphed by their policies. Um and it devastated so many of our communities. I think most people uh also recognize that when you welcome people from around the world, you're going to get bad actors, too. You're going to get cartel members taking advantage of the situation. Terrorist organizations that are going to infiltrate our country. People who um have been kicked out of their own countries for reasons that their country would not tolerate. uh they came here to find a safe haven and Joe Biden gave them that opportunity. So um you know it is going to be a big job to clean up the mess that they created but President Trump is determined to do so and overwhelmingly the American people support him in that. They are so thrilled to get these dangerous people off of their streets. when I've been out working with the frontline individuals in the Department of Homeland Security, with our officers, um with those that are emergency responders, um you can be in New York City, you can be um in San Diego, you can be anywhere, and people that are walking their kids to school in the morning are walking by the operations going, "Thank you."

One last point, thank you for being here. Um the situation in my home state, we're losing about 3,000 kids a year to fentinel, to overdoses. We've got human trafficking happening from Memphis to Nashville and beyond. And I really want to know, I think the the American people expect that this border will be secured, that we can get this stop, but what resources do you need to make that happen that you don't have today?

Well, you've seen the request from President Trump in reconciliation uh and in his fiscal year budget. Um, you know, he is doing due diligence to make sure we have the resources that we need to really secure our border, but also to make sure that we are stopping this poison in our communities. Um, it's giving us enforcement tools, more officers out there, more agreements. You've seen us implement 287G with local law enforcement officers and state law enforcement officers that will get us u compound our efforts out on the ground, uh, give us more individuals to clean up the mess. But we also need the technology at our ports to scan packages that come into this country. We've collected, I think, over 36 billion dollars worth of tariffs against other countries um that um because of what President Trump is doing to make sure that we're putting jobs back in the United States of America. But uh CBP is the ones that are collecting those tariffs, but they also need at our ports of entry scanning technology so we know what's coming in in packages, what's coming in by air freight that we just haven't been doing due diligence under the Joe Biden administration to really know what the threats are and how those dangerous chemicals and poisons are coming in. Thank you, Senator Hagerty.

For the last round of question, Senator Murphy. Uh thank you. Um, Madam Secretary, one of the accounts that right now is being impounded, I mentioned it in my opening statement, is the shelter and services program. Um, I I certainly understand that as a program that Republicans, unfortunately, have have not supported. Um, but it was a major element of the budget that we passed and thus far, um, there are, you know, somewhere in the neighborhood of $600 million that you have not expended. Can you commit to this committee? Uh, understanding that you have the ability to decide how that money is spent and who gets that money within the parameters dictated by Congress, but can you commit to this committee that you are going to spend the money in the shelter and services account according to the authorization provided to you by by Congress?

Sir, we have followed authorizations and the law and how these dollars are being spent. We are not conducting any empoundment. And as you know, under the previous administration, the shelter and services program was being used to facilitate illegal immigration and shelter for criminals um in many areas. And so we are using those dollars to how they were intended by Congress when those dollars were put into that program.

But you haven't but you haven't spent um really any of those dollars other than those that you've reprogrammed. Um so you and I certainly understand that you do have a right to spend a little bit of time on review but you you do have to spend those dollars. So can you commit to us that you are going to spend the dollars in the shelter and services program on the functionalities uh and programmatic parameters authorized by Congress.

We're going to follow the um authorities that we have under the Department of Homeland Security and the administration for how uh Congress appropriates funds. Absolutely. We will follow um what is authorized and what is uh the process for how those are traditionally spent. M madam chair, my guess is that the administration is not going to spend any of the SSP dollars that by the end of the year those dollars will not be spent. And and I I raised this issue because I I admit that this was a priority for Democrats and that money was included in the budget in exchange for other um uh funds that were priorities for Republicans. If we now live in a world in which the administration spends down the accounts that were priorities for Republicans and does not spend down the priorities that were priorities for Democrats, I don't know how we do a budget. I I don't actually know how we come to an agreement if we live in a world in which the administration doesn't spend the accounts that it doesn't believe in. Um that would be precedentbreaking uh for this Congress. And so, um, I raised this issue because I think it's very relevant to our work. And I think it will make it virtually impossible for us to do a bipartisan budget if by the end of this fiscal year, the $600 million that are sitting in this account that are supposed to be used to treat migrants to this country humanely are not used. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Senator Murphy.

And we have uh about six minutes left on the vote, so I'm going to make my last round quick. Um, I want to talk to you a little bit about the Center for Domestic Preparedness. It's the pre-minent institution when it comes to training and equipping emergency managers and first responders. I certainly appreciate the department's efforts to increase the capacity of our state, local, territorial, and tribal partners to better handle disasters, to respond to civil unrest, and to keep cities safe and secure. with impending events like the World Cup, Olympics, a future Super Bowl, etc. I want to make sure that we get this training back up and going. My question to you is when can we expect these classes to be turned back on and will there be any remedy for classes that were cancelled?

Uh yes, we'll work with you, Senator, to see um what we can do for rescheduling classes and that funding will be continued and it'll be a priority of the Department of Homeland Security into the future. Excellent. Thank you so much. Um, madame secretary, we will go ahead and wrap this up. Thank you so much for being here today. I know that we can obviously disagree on policy uh across this dis. Uh, but we certainly agree uh that we want to make sure that we get timely responses. And on that note, for closing, we will have questions for the record will be submitted and then due on May 15th, so 7 days from now. Thank you for the work that you're doing and this committee hearing is adjourned. Thank you. Thank you. elevator Thank you for the job. Okay. much incredible birthday. just talk to the FBI and they won't talk today. I tried to pass them with my phone number and they refused to Fore speech.