WASHINGTON – Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala), House Homeland Security Committee ranking member, released the following statement after Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) subpoenaed Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf. Chairman Thompson’s subpoena came despite the longstanding practice that presidential nominees do not testify at hearings unrelated to their nomination. This is a standard practice of both this Administration and Administrations prior. The Department of Homeland Security offered Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Ken Cucinelli, to be a witness for the House Homeland Security Committee’s hearing.

“Nineteen years after the attacks of 9/11, Committee Democrats are choosing to play politics with our national security,” Rogers said. “I am disappointed that Chairman Thompson again broke his clear commitment to members of this committee and decided to unilaterally issue a subpoena. The Committee could have exercised its oversight authorities and responsibilities by hearing from Mr. Cuccinelli now and hearing from Mr. Wolf after his nomination process is complete. Acting Secretary Wolf offered to appear before our committee in July and August on pressing matters, but Chairman Thompson never scheduled those hearings. We need to get our priorities straight. It’s of the utmost importance to hear from the Department on the threats facing our nation.”