All articles tagged with #oversight
Rep. Robert Garcia claims the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews with a survivor who accused Trump of sexual misconduct in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, with the records not viewable in the DOJ’s Epstein files database released after a disclosure law. Oversight Democrats say they will pursue a parallel inquiry and demand the records be shared with Congress and the public.
Newly released records show an ICE officer fatally shot Ruben Ray Martinez, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, in South Padre Island during a traffic-control incident, a finding that adds scrutiny to the Trump era's immigration crackdown; the DHS report says Martinez accelerated toward officers after failing to follow directions and struck an agent, prompting gunfire; the Texas DPS is investigating, while critics call for greater transparency and congressional scrutiny as similar fatal encounters drew national attention in Minnesota.
Billionaire Leslie Wexner testified that Jeffrey Epstein would name-drop President Donald Trump as someone he knew, but Wexner says they were not friends and he has no knowledge of any sexual activity involving Trump tied to Epstein; a five-hour deposition video was released by House Oversight Republicans, while Democrats expressed skepticism and vowed further investigation.
A CNN review of the DOJ’s Epstein files shows decades of FBI scrutiny of Les Wexner, with investigators seeking information about his knowledge of Epstein’s sex trafficking, subpoenaing him in 2019 and even labeling him a 'secondary' co-conspirator in some records, though no charges have been filed against Wexner. House Democrats say the material highlights efforts to trace money and identify enablers, and Wexner is set to testify in a deposition as scrutiny continues.
The partial government shutdown threatens DHS oversight as funding gaps force the inspector general to suspend about 85% of audits, evaluations and inspections. Eight active probes into the Trump-era immigration crackdown—including facial recognition use and alleged excessive force—could be delayed or halted. Democrats demand reforms (body cameras, ID numbers, transparency) before funding, but Republicans and the White House resist some provisions, likely leaving DHS unfunded for at least 10 days. With roughly 60% of the OIG workforce furloughed, ongoing investigations and oversight of agencies like ICE, CBP, and even cybersecurity reviews could be stymied, raising concerns about independence and accountability during the shutdown.
Lawmakers remain entrenched in a dispute over DHS oversight, with no clear path to ending the partial government shutdown as the stalemate continues to affect budgeting and federal operations, including potential disruptions at airports, while leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer push for a resolution.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faces bipartisan calls to resign after newly released DOJ files suggest ongoing interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, contradicting prior statements; Ghislaine Maxwell invokes the Fifth in a House deposition tied to the Epstein probe. The day also includes Venezuela energy briefings and DHS funding talks as Congress negotiates a potential shutdown.
HUD is moving about 3,000 Washington-based employees to Alexandria, VA, claiming it will save taxpayer money and improve employee well-being, but union officials and lawmakers question the move’s legality, funding, and congressional oversight, noting delays and a lack of clear authorization or cost details.
Democratic leaders laid out a package of demands for funding the Department of Homeland Security that would tighten immigration enforcement, including mandatory body cameras, judicial warrants for arrests in homes and cars, independent oversight, and protections against detaining or deporting American citizens. They oppose another short-term funding extension and warn a shutdown is possible if a full-year bill isn’t agreed, while Republicans show mixed receptivity to some measures like body cameras and ending roving patrols.
The Jan. 6 select committee subpoenas T-Mobile for records tied to pipe-bomb suspect Brian Cole to inform oversight and potential reforms on how cell-phone usage is evaluated; the update also covers James Comer weighing Bill Gates testimony in the Epstein probe, a House vote to force DC tax cuts, and ongoing DHS funding talks that could trigger a year-long continuing resolution, along with Tim Scott commenting on the DOJ probe into Powell.
A federal judge blocked Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem’s seven‑day advance notice rule for congressional oversight visits to ICE detention facilities, ruling the policy violated appropriations law and is unlikely to be enforceable even when funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB); in a second setback this year, the court indicated Democrats are likely to prevail, preserving Congress’s ability to access detention sites amid heightened scrutiny of immigration enforcement.
House Democrats urge an urgent, standards-based review of the unredacted Epstein investigative files to ensure redactions comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, arguing that millions of pages released still conceal material and may improperly shield victims or sensitive details; the push comes amid ongoing disclosures about Epstein’s discussions with prosecutors regarding potential cooperation before his 2019 death and related high-profile associations.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison will testify March 4 before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee about Minnesota social security/welfare fraud, as part of Chair James Comer’s investigation and a broader push to curb waste and abuse; Walz has previously spoken on immigration enforcement cooperation, and Ellison is a former congressman, with the hearing occurring amid ongoing funding and immigration-policy debates in Congress.
Congress cleared the FY2026 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill, rejecting proposed deep cuts to major science agencies and embedding enforcement-oriented provisions into law to protect how funds are spent. The move preserves funding for agencies like NASA, NSF, NOAA, and NIST, strengthens guardrails against impoundment, and ties reporting language to statutory requirements to bolster oversight. Lawmakers say the changes empower Congress to enforce budget decisions and will be supplemented by hearings as agencies implement FY2026 funding and prepare for FY2027.
After the Minnesota shooting of Alex Pretti, Republican lawmakers are pushing for investigations and testimony from DHS leaders, signaling a break with earlier GOP unity on immigration; Noem is set to testify and Tom Homan’s Minnesota deployment is praised, as funding talks continue.