Security Clearances

Security Clearances

Chairman Cummings is committed to conducting vigorous oversight of our nation's security clearance processes. Deficiencies in this process may represent urgent and grave risks to our national security, not only with respect to systemic challenges, but also with respect to specific individuals who should not have access to our nation's most highly guarded secrets.

More on Security Clearances

Acting Ranking Member Lynch Asks President Trump Whether Elon Musk Was Under the Influence While Working in the White House
June 4, 2025
Press Release
Washington, D.C. (June 4, 2025)—Today, Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, Acting Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to President Donald Trump seeking information concerning his knowledge of whether Elon Musk was under the influence of illicit drugs while serving as a Special Government Employee and White House Senior Adviser.  In these prominent roles, Elon Musk used his extensive powers and influence to direct lucrative government contracts to his network of companies, execute mass firings of federal workers, deprive the world’s malnourished and neediest children of food and medical supplies, undermine Social Security, surveil and stockpile Americans most sensitive data and information, and generally make life harder and more expensive for the American people.
Subcommittees
119th Congress
Issues: Administration DOGE Security Clearances
Acting Ranking Member Lynch Doubles Down on Demand for Musk’s SF-86 and Other Background Investigation Documents in Light of Bombshell Reporting on Musk’s Drug Use
May 30, 2025
Press Release
Washington, D.C. (May 30, 2025)— Today, Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, Acting Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent letters to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and FBI Director Kash Patel reiterating the Committee’s demands for all information pertaining to the disclosure of Elon Musk’s alleged history of drug use following reporting that the head of DOGE and Special Government Employee’s drug consumption “went well beyond occasional use.”  Committee Democrats first requested this information – along with information on Musk’s ties to foreign governments like China and Russia, Musk’s growing treasure chest of government contracts, and other potential liabilities that would make him vulnerable to coercion and corruption or cloud his judgment – on May 1, 2025. So far, the Trump Administration has failed to respond, choosing instead to shield Mr. Musk and hide this information from the American public.
Subcommittees
119th Congress
Issues: Administration DOGE Security Clearances
Task Force Ranking Member Robert Garcia Introduces Resolution of Inquiry to Find Out if DOGE Has Security Clearance
March 27, 2025
Press Release

Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2025)—Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, led Committee Democrats in introducing a Resolution of Inquiry to investigate whether Elon Musk and DOGE affiliates actually have security clearances.  

Subcommittees
119th Congress
Issues: Administration Ethics and Transparency Security Clearances
Committee Seeks Documents on Terminated Trump Aide Now Overseeing White House Personnel Process
February 25, 2020
Press Release

Washington, D.C. (Feb. 25, 2020)—Today, Rep. Carolyn B.

Issues: Security Clearances
Subcommittee Chairs Demand Testimony From White House Official Who Failed to Comply with Security Clearance Law
October 31, 2019
Press Release

Washington, D.C. (Oct. 31, 2019)—Today, Rep. Gerry Connolly, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, and Rep. Stephen F.

Subcommittees
National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs (116th Congress)
Government Operations and the Federal Workforce (116th Congress)
Issues: Security Clearances
Examining the White House’s Dysfunctional Security Clearance System
Meeting Status:
Postponed
Hearing
Date:
Location:
2154 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Cummings Schedules Interview with White House Security Director
April 27, 2019
Press Release

Washington, D.C. (Apr. 27, 2019)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent a letter to former White House Personnel Security Director Carl Kline scheduling a transcribed interview for this coming Wednesday as part of the Committee's investigation into White House security clearances. Kline failed to show up last week for a deposition pursuant to a subpoena issued by the Committee.

Issues: Security Clearances
White House Orders Former Security Director to Defy Oversight Committee Subpoena
April 23, 2019
Press Release

Washington, D.C. (Apr. 23, 2019)— This morning at 9 a.m., Democratic and Republican investigators on the Committee on Oversight and Reform convened the scheduled deposition of White House Personnel Security Director Carl Kline, which was ordered by a subpoena issued by the Committee on April 2. Mr. Kline did not appear for his deposition. The White House informed the Committee that it ordered Mr. Kline not to appear, but the President has not asserted any Constitutional or other privilege that would have relieved Mr.

Issues: Administration National Security Issues Security Clearances
Committee Approves Subpoenas in Security Clearance and Census Investigations
April 2, 2019
Press Release

Washington, D.C. (Apr. 2, 2019)—Today, the Committee on Oversight and Reform voted to authorize Chairman Elijah E. Cummings to issue a subpoena for testimony to President Trump's former White House Personnel Security Director and three additional subpoenas relating to the Trump Administration's secret efforts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. One Republican Committee Member voted in favor of the census-related subpoenas.

Cummings has now served all four subpoenas.

Security Clearance Subpoena

Issues: Administration Census Ethics and Transparency Security Clearances Whistleblower
Full Committee Business Meeting
Business Meeting
Date:
Location:
2154 Rayburn HOB
Washington DC Office
Rayburn House Office Building
2106 RHOB
Washington , DC  20515
Phone: (202) 225-5051