Overview

• FBI Director Christopher Wray and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas declined to testify publicly at an annual Senate hearing on national security threats, breaking a 15-year tradition.
• The Senate Homeland Security Committee, led by Democrat Gary Peters, criticized the move as a failure of transparency and accountability to the American public.
• Both agencies defended their decision, arguing that a classified briefing would provide more substantive discussions on evolving threats, though lawmakers rejected this justification.
• Republican senators, including Rand Paul and Josh Hawley, joined Democrats in condemning the refusal, with some calling for resignations or subpoenas to compel testimony.
• The hearing, which traditionally covers pressing topics such as terrorism, cybersecurity, and border security, has been postponed until December.