Defense & National Security

Washington, D.C.(Dec. 18, 2014) – Today, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman-elect Jason Chaffetz (R – UT), and current Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D – MD), released the following statement in response to a review conducted by an independent panel appointed by the Department of Homeland Security on recent security breaches within the Secret Service:

Washington, D.C. (Nov. 20, 2014)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. John F.

WASHINGTON – Today, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings, D-Md., asked U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson to conduct a comprehensive external review of the Secret Service beyond the September 19 White House intrusion incident. The Committee's September 30 hearing raised bipartisan concerns regarding a series of dangerous security breaches that highlighted significant flaws within the Secret Service's culture.

Chairman Issa and Ranking Member Cummings wrote:

Washington, DC —Appearing on CNN's Wolf Blitzer today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, stated that Secret Service Director Julia Pierson should step down if she cannot restore public trust in the agency—and in particular address cultural issues to ensure that agents feel comfortable raising security concerns to higher-ups.

"I want her to go if she cannot restore trust in the agency, and if she cannot get the culture back in order," said Cummings. "I told her that she's got a tall order there."

Washington, DC —Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement in response to Secret Service Director Julia Pierson's decision to resign today: