Peters Demands Answers on Wasteful Spending, Lack of Oversight of $260 Billion in DHS Funding

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding answers about wasteful spending, questionable contracting decisions, and a lack of oversight of more than $260 billion in funding provided to DHS through the Republican-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the Secure America Act. Peters highlighted numerous instances of the Department mismanaging taxpayer dollars and raised concerns that insufficient safeguards and oversight could lead to further waste, fraud, and abuse.

"While the Trump Administration has claimed it is committed to maximizing government efficiency and reducing waste and abuse, current DHS spending and its lack of planning for any meaningful oversight of that spending raises questions about the sincerity of this commitment," Peters wrote.

In his letter, Peters highlighted several examples of waste and mismanagement within the Department, including Customs and Border Protection awarding border wall construction contracts despite the federal government lacking access to more than half of the 700 miles where construction is planned, potentially leaving taxpayers on the hook for costly penalties. The letter also details how DHS wasted $20.5 million purchasing warehouses for immigration detention, only to later decide to sell those same properties.

Peters also raised concerns about reports that Secretary Mullin has used a Gulfstream G700 luxury jet for trips to his home state of Oklahoma and authorized the purchase of 12 additional aircraft, including five luxury jets. He also highlighted reporting that DHS used taxpayer dollars to purchase television advertisements prominently featuring President Trump, potentially in violation of federal law. Peters demanded answers about how the Department is preventing wasteful spending, ensuring accountability, and safeguarding taxpayer dollars

"Despite this suspected rampant waste and abuse of billions of taxpayer dollars, this Republican-controlled Congress has shown no appetite to exercise its constitutional oversight responsibilities. As a result, this abdication of Congress's constitutional responsibility will almost surely amount to record levels of taxpayer-funded waste, fraud, and abuse," Peters wrote.

During committee consideration of Republicans' Secure America Act in June, Peters pushed for a vote on an amendment to the legislation which would have directed nearly $1 billion to the DHS Office of Inspector General for independent oversight of the Department. Republicans unanimously voted down the proposal.

Text of the letter is available here.

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