WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman of the Homeland Security Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, called on Department of HomelandSecurity Secretary Janet Napolitano to immediately release information on costs associated with Department conferences.  Chairman McCaul requested this information in April.  After more than 100 business days, DHS has yet to provide it to the Subcommittee.

“The silence from your Department on this issue is deafening,” Chairman McCaul states in a letter to Secretary Napolitano.  “The Department’s dereliction in providing this information raises a simple question: what does DHS have to hide in its participation in these conferences?  The American people’s faith in government was severely shaken when the Inspector General at the General Services Administration reported egregious waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.  Our request, made on behalf of the taxpayers for whom we serve, is intended to ensure such a culture does not exist at DHS.  Unfortunately, your Department’s failure to provide our requested information leaves this question very much in doubt.”

Earlier this year, scandal plagued the General Services Administration (GSA) for egregious waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars at its conferences. Rep. McCaul’s request was intended to investigate the extent to which a similar culture of waste and misuse of power exists at DHS. DHS is the third largest federal department with an annual budget of nearly $60 billion.

The letter to Secretary Napolitano

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