GOP Senators Warn of Bureaucrat Targeting

Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Rick Scott (R-FL) have expressed alarm over potential political targeting of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, a Trump appointee. Their concerns stem from whistleblower allegations that the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) is conducting a politically motivated investigation against Cuffari due to his critical reports on the Biden administration's border policies. The senators obtained a letter detailing these claims, which suggest that Cuffari's findings have made him a target for bureaucratic retaliation. Cuffari has been instrumental in uncovering vulnerabilities at the U.S.-Mexico border, publishing significant reports that highlight issues such as the inability to track migrants released into the U.S. and the release of a migrant on a terrorist watchlist. His recent investigations also scrutinized the government's handling of Afghan evacuees following the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and the U.S. Secret Service's failures during the January 6 Capitol riot. These reports have raised questions about the DHS's transparency and cooperation with Cuffari's office. The senators argue that Cuffari's ongoing investigations could reflect poorly on the Biden administration, suggesting that the Integrity Committee's actions may be an attempt to shield the administration from scrutiny. They have requested a briefing from CIGIE Chair Kimberly Howell regarding the investigation into Cuffari and the financial resources allocated to it. Johnson and Scott's letter underscores the need for congressional support for the DHS Inspector General's independent work, emphasizing that any obstruction of Cuffari's efforts to expose policy failures at the border is unacceptable.