Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Photo by Tia Dufour Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida sharply criticized
Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida sharply criticized the Biden administration after it refused to allow Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray to testify at a U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) hearing on threats to the homeland.
“A Dangerous and Cowardly Break from Precedent”
In a statement, Senator Scott called the administration’s decision a “dangerous and cowardly break from precedent,” accusing it of undermining accountability and transparency at a time of heightened national security threats.
“The administration’s refusal to have DHS Secretary Mayorkas and FBI Director Wray testify in a public hearing denies the American people the oversight they deserve,” said Scott. “The cowardly refusal to show up for today’s hearing only further erodes the public trust. We have serious problems facing our nation that the Biden administration and DHS have both caused and utterly failed to fix.”
READ: Florida Senator Rick Scott Slams Department Of Defense After Failed Annual Audit
Failures and Frustrations
Scott highlighted what he described as the Biden administration’s failures in addressing critical security issues, citing the ongoing border crisis, rising violent crime, and a loss of faith in government transparency. He linked these concerns to the broader dissatisfaction voiced by Americans in the wake of the recent election.
“I and the American people won’t get that chance. I think it is clear that the election we just had was a total rejection of the status quo in Washington and a message from the American people that they don’t trust their government. I cannot stress this enough—at every event I have done and meeting I have been in for the last six months, since the assassination attempt in Butler, I have asked the people I meet if they believe the federal government is being honest and transparent with them. Not a single person said yes. This isn’t just about the assassination attempt – they don’t trust the Biden administration to secure the border, they don’t trust the federal government to keep them safe right now. They don’t trust them to even tell them the truth,” said Scott.
READ: Florida Sen. Rick Scott Rips Biden-Harris Admin For Rising Inflation Following New PPI Report
Key Issues Highlighted by Scott
- Border Crisis and Crime Surge: Scott pointed to what he called the “complete collapse” of the Southwest border, which he said has allowed millions of drugs to flow into the U.S., contributed to a 4.5% increase in violent crime, and led to the deaths of Americans at the hands of individuals who entered the country illegally.
- Immigration Enforcement Failures: Data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows nearly 1.5 million immigrants with final deportation orders remain in the U.S., and deportations have plummeted under the Biden administration. Scott also highlighted ICE’s failure to track more than 320,000 unaccompanied migrant children, raising concerns about their vulnerability to exploitation.
- Weaponization of Federal Agencies: Citing the release of the “Twitter Files,” Scott accused DHS of using federal resources to censor Americans via social media, in violation of the First Amendment.
- Lack of Accountability for Attacks on Trump: Scott noted that under Mayorkas’ leadership, there were two attempted assassinations on President-elect Trump, despite repeated requests from the Secret Service for additional resources.
A Call for Accountability
Scott emphasized that the administration’s absence at the hearing underscores a broader failure to address critical issues facing the nation. He framed the refusal to testify as part of a pattern of inaction that has left Americans feeling unsafe and unsupported.
“This is not a political issue, it’s a safety and national security issue, but let me highlight one more piece of evidence here. In a Reuters poll conducted after the election, 25% of Americans said the top issue President Trump should tackle in his first 100 days is immigration,” said Scott. “It was the biggest issue in that poll. The failure at our border was just completely rejected by the American people because they want to feel safe and secure. They haven’t been able to feel safe and secure for the last four years and the administration’s refusal to face these facts is disgusting cowardice that betrays its obligation to serve the American people.”
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