▶ 0:08:47Good afternoon. Committee will be in order. Without objection, uh the chair is authorized to declare a recess at any We'll begin by myself being recognized for an opening statement.
▶ 0:09:03I'd like to um welcome our witness, the honorable Pam Attorney General of the United States, to testify on the Department of the Justice's fiscal year 20 26 uh budget. To begin, I want to thank the Attorney General for speaking at the uh RX and Illicit Drug Summit this past down in uh Nashville, Tennessee.
▶ 0:09:33Uh that's, I think, the third or fourth of those summits that you have been there to speak. And we appreciate that especially. that summit gathers the best and to discuss ways our nation can tackle the opioid and addiction crisis impacting every of our country.
▶ 0:09:58At this year's summit, we received some encouraging news from the CDC that overdose deaths have decreased by nearly 30%. Unfortunately, we still lost over 80,000 loved ones in 2004 at 24. And recent provisional data from the CDC uh suggests that the progress that has been made might be coming to an end.
▶ 0:10:29And indeed 70% of those deaths were from fentanyl. Significant more work needs to be done to curb opioid addiction including focusing on the precursor chemicals being produced in China and the manufacturing labs in Mexico as well as tracking down the cartels and that shop these drugs to our nation's children.
▶ 0:10:57The Department of Justice must keep this at the top of their priority list. uh Madam General, your job at the at the top uh will not be easy and the list of issues that the American people are counting on you to address is long and dangerous.
▶ 0:11:21From fentanyl and immigration to violent and supporting local law enforcement the Department of Justice needs to uphold the rule law and equal justice while tackling the most dangerous situations confronting Americans.
▶ 0:11:41To make matters even more difficult, this all must be accomplished within a budget that needs to be right-sized for efficiency and effectiveness. The Department of Justice's fiscal year 2026 budget request totals just under $34 billion.
▶ 0:12:03This represents a reduction of close to 3 billion from fiscal '25 and specifically the request includes about 11 billion to target violent crime, 10 billion to tackle drug crimes, over 3 billion to defend the nation and our citizens against transnational organized crime, and over 3.5 billion
▶ 0:12:34to address immigration. These are the exact issues that hit home for many families, and these are the issues that are being discussed between neighbors in all of our states, including mine in and across the nation.
▶ 0:12:55After 4 years of politicization at the Biden's Department of Justice, these are the issues that the American people expect you to address. They want a Department of Justice that protects American citizens from violent crime, not one that is weaponized against them for speaking their minds.
▶ 0:13:22Thus far, we have seen much progress on many of these fronts including an administration that's taking the nation's borders Attorney General Bondi I stand ready to support you in your to ensure that the American public lives in a society that is free from crime and abuse. I look forward to hearing from you today regarding the fiscal 2026 budget.
▶ 0:13:53Uh and then we will go from there. There are critically important funding ahead of us and I hope we can gain a better sense of your priorities today so that we can make the best decision on behalf of the American public. Let me now recognize the ranking member of this subcommittee, Ms.
▶ 0:14:21Meng for any remarks she cares to make. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome, Attorney General Bondi. Tens of thousands of public servants at the Department of Justice and its bureaus have historically worked very hard and continue to work hard to protect public safety and uphold the rule of law in our Yet, I must take this opportunity to express my very strong concerns about this current administration's lack of respect for the rule of law.
▶ 0:14:52Over the past 5 months, we have seen numerous examples of this administration outright breaking the law. The administration continues to illegally hold withhold billions of dollars in funding that Congress appropriated, including hundreds of recently terminated justice grants that had been previously been awarded through open and competitive processes.
▶ 0:15:18The administration is violating the federal law that mandates that the Office of Management and Budget publish apportionments and show the public how and when federal agencies are spending appropriated funds.
▶ 0:15:33The Justice Department has begun illegally restoring the gun possession rights of convicted felons and domestic It's allowing the sale of forced reset trigger devices without a background These are devices that effectively convert regular firearms into machine which I fear will only make mass shootings in the United States more numerous and deadly.
▶ 0:16:02More than 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6th attack on the Capitol were pardoned or granted commutations of sentences. The president's new appointee as pardon attorney Ed Martin previously raised money to help defend some of the most violent of these individuals, people who assaulted police officers. Some of the pardoned January 6th defendants have subsequently been arrested, charged, or sentenced for other crimes.
▶ 0:16:32Under this president, the US has accepted a luxury jetliner from Cutter, very likely in violation of the emoluments clause of the Constitution. This president has also issued a series of illegal and unconstitutional executive orders, several of which are being challenged in courts right now.
▶ 0:16:54Presidential actions in recent months have also directed highly political and targeted investigations against law firms and individuals, including Miles Taylor, a former staffer for the House Appropriations Committee's Republican Meanwhile, the administration has weakened law enforcement against political corruption by gutting the department's public integrity section, which fairly investigates and prosecutes corruption by government officials.
▶ 0:17:25It has dismantled Task Force KleptoCapture, which was started after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine to enforce sanctions and target oligarchs close to the Kremlin. It has also ended the FBI's foreign influence task force, which was created to defend against foreign influence operations targeting US institutions.
▶ 0:17:48Furthermore, dozens of experienced career federal prosecutors, litigators, and FBI leaders have been fired or forced out since the start of this including James Dennehy, the highly respected leader of the FBI's New York field office. I'm really concerned about what is happening in the Department of Justice, especially based on the department's fiscal year 2026 budget request.
▶ 0:18:15The proposed budget weakens the country's efforts to fight crime and keep Americans safe. The proposal reduces funding for the FBI despite the heroism of agents like those in Minnesota who aided in the recent capture of the deranged man accused of killing a state representative and nearly killing another.
▶ 0:18:36It slashes funding to fight the trafficking of fentanyl and other dangerous illegal drugs by reducing the budget of the DEA, cutting the high-intensity drug trafficking areas program by more than a third, and by completely eliminating the dedicated funding for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces program.
▶ 0:18:58The administration also proposes a cut of more than 25% to the ATF, which will further weaken the government's ability to fight illegal gun trafficking. This budget proposal also puts further pressure on state and local budgets at a time of great economic uncertainty.
▶ 0:19:17The proposal cuts by more than $800 funding to grants to local and state law enforcement for fighting and reducing crime, including a cut of more than $37 to Byrne Justice Assistance Formula Grants that help our local law enforcement in every single state. I'm also concerned about the huge cuts to grants aimed at preventing and prosecuting violence against women, such as STOP Grants and Sexual Assault Services Grants.
▶ 0:19:47The administration also proposes eliminating three valuable programs aimed at fighting and preventing hate crimes at the same time that the FBI is reporting that hate crimes are at historic highs. The administration's budget would completely eliminate the Community Relations Service, which was created by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prevent and resolve conflicts in American communities.
▶ 0:20:11These actions and this budget proposal simply don't demonstrate a commitment to the rule of law and equal rights for all Americans. I look forward to discussing these important issues at today's hearing. Thank you for being here, and thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield We have in attendance the ranking member of the full committee, Ms. DeLauro, whom I now recognize. Thank you very much.
▶ 0:20:42Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I want to thank you and Ranking Member Meng for holding this budget hearing. And also want to say a thank you to our witness, Attorney General Bondi, for appearing before the subcommittee today. Welcome to the House of Representatives. A well-functioning, well-funded, well-led Department of Justice is critical to the safety and the security of the American people.
▶ 0:21:08And the Department of Justice's employees are dedicated public servants who work diligently and often in dangerous settings to keep criminals off the streets. But unfortunately, the Department of Justice under your leadership has become a tool of a political retaliation and the front door for criminals seeking to curry favors and pardons.
▶ 0:21:32As I told Director Patel last month, pressure from the White House to investigate the president's opponents or to squash investigations of his allies threaten the department's credibility and the very foundations and the foundation on which this nation stands, and that is the rule of law.
▶ 0:21:56The Attorney General must shield the rule of law from political pressure, not act as an instrument for implementing the president's political hit list. Attorney General Barr, the Department of Justice is not the president's personal law firm.
▶ 0:22:14Loyalty or disloyalty toward the president or even the president's agenda is not a valid measure of the performance of your employees nor of the appropriateness of a particular criminal President Trump is more focused on retaliation, and retribution, rather than lowering high price for everyday essentials, and the American people are bearing those costs.
▶ 0:22:42The American people expected President Trump to address the high cost of but the president is not laser-focused on the cost of living crisis. He is actually making it worse. Instead, he put billionaires like Elon Musk in charge of our government, and they are attacking civil servants who are not loyal to him, but to the Constitution and to the rule of law, and they are stealing programs, the funding for the programs that keep America's
▶ 0:23:13communities safe. This administration is deliberately undermining agencies that protect the American people. Over $4.5 billion in the Department of Justice grant that that was funds, including COPS grants, the Office of Violence Against Women grants, that have been unlawfully frozen, stolen from the communities that are counting on this funding to improve their own law enforcement capabilities.
▶ 0:23:40This funding supports re-entry initiatives, violence prevention, it helps prevent hate crimes, provides services for crime victims, and supports underserved communities. Stealing this funding makes the American people less safe, more likely to become victims of crime.
▶ 0:24:01Freezing this money is an illegal There is no lawful authority to unilaterally impound, or in my words, You can continue to say there is inherent authority. You can say it over and over and over again, but it is not And we are going to correct it over and over and over again.
▶ 0:24:29And how many times can the courts and the Government Accountability Office tell you so? Your department is responsible for upholding the law. You must unfreeze grant money appropriated by the Congress or be in violation of the law.
▶ 0:24:50Moving to the next fiscal year, I'm eager to learn about how the Department of Justice will continue to fulfill its with a proposed budget that significantly cuts our nation's law enforcement agencies, key offices, and grant programs. The president's proposed budget would impair and defund the core law enforcement agencies that keep our communities safe. In essence, you are defunding law enforcement.
▶ 0:25:20It slashes funding for the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, limiting federal efforts to help our state and our local enforcement enforcement combat gun violence, drug trafficking, and organized crime. The budget also targets DOJ's foundational legal divisions, cutting funding for civil rights enforcement, environmental protection, and even, yes, national security.
▶ 0:25:50It takes an axe to grant programs and other programs that support domestic violence survivors and local police departments. It dismantles DOJ's tax division, which will only make it easier for prominent tax cheats to avoid prosecution, further increasing the burden on honest taxpayers who pay what they owe. They pay what they owe. Our largest corporations do not.
▶ 0:26:15And why on earth does your budget slash the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General by 30%? Does this administration want to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse or not? Our government's Inspector General are absolutely critical non-partisan offices that help Congress and the American people eliminate and prevent and and that prevent fraud and corruption.
▶ 0:26:42This administration has directly undermined and even removed over a dozen of these offices across our government. Waste, fraud, and abuse are not the targets of the President Trump's White House. They are the primary objectives. This budget does not put the safety and security of the American people first. It puts white-collar criminals, drug traffickers, and violent offenders first while eviscerating your department's ability to stop them.
▶ 0:27:11The Department of Justice exists to uphold the rule of law. The American people deserve assurance that everyone will be treated equally under the law. Instead, this administration breaks the law with reckless abandon. President Trump, like every other American, must follow the law. Russ Vote must follow the law. Secretaries Noem and Kennedy and McMahon must follow the law.
▶ 0:27:37And we must understand why your department is complicit in lawbreaking from the highest office. I yield back. We want to say congratulations to the Attorney General on her selection to this very important post. but she brings a great record from her home state of Florida. Uh and her and her earlier part of her life.
▶ 0:28:08So, we're proud of you and we welcome you to the subcommittee. And you're now recognized for an opening statement uh which will be entered into the record. Thank you, Chairman. Um good afternoon, Chairman Rogers, Member DeLauro, and Ranking Member Meng, and distinguished members of the I'm honored to appear before you today to present the President's fiscal year 2026 budget for the Department of Justice.
▶ 0:28:38I look forward to working with all of you to ensure continued support for the department and our many critical missions. President Trump's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal totals 34 billion for the Department of Justice. That money will support federal law enforcement as well as our state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners.
▶ 0:29:00My primary objective as Attorney General is to return the department to its core mission of keeping Americans safe and vigorously enforcing the law. This budget will allow us to continue doing just that. Since January 20th, we've dismantled deadly fentanyl networks across our country. We prosecuted MS-13 and TDA members using terrorism and RICO charges.
▶ 0:29:24We've seized thousands of illegal guns from cartels and extradited key cartel leaders into US prisons. Last month, the FBI arrested 205 child predators in a single operation, and the DEA executed the largest fentanyl bust in the history across four states.
▶ 0:29:45We've also surged FBI resources to investigate thousands of violent crimes committed against American Indian and Alaskan Native people. These are just a few examples of what we've achieved thus far. The budget will allow us to continue doing our crucial work. We've also led the charge to enforce our immigration laws, rebuild our immigration system after 4 years of chaos, helped secure our nation's borders, moreover.
▶ 0:30:14We must guarantee that our laws allow us to process, hold, and remove those who enter our country illegally. Our US attorneys continue to effectively work with law enforcement at all levels to investigate and prosecute the increasing volume of immigrated-related criminal offenses. Additionally, the President and I have established and reinvigorated three task forces to enforce the administration's priorities.
▶ 0:30:43The Homeland Security Task Force is enhancing federal and state law enforcement cooperation to destroy criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations throughout our country. Joint Task Force Alpha will continue to specifically target the human trafficking and human smuggling networks that took root while our border was wide open.
▶ 0:31:08And Joint Task Force Vulcan will continue successful efforts to arrest and prosecute members of TDA and MS-13. We are also committed to making America safe again by reducing recidivism. The Bureau of Prisons has suffered mismanagement, lack of funding, and low morale. Throughout my confirmation BOP came up in every single meeting, regardless of the senators' party.
▶ 0:31:35President The President's budget proposal will address critical staffing shortages, enhance staff retention, and deliver positive changes to a system that has long needed The resources made available through President Trump's proposal will also empower the department to continue fighting our war on fentanyl.
▶ 0:32:00Since January 2025, the DEA has already seized 41.5 million fentanyl pills and 4,470 kilos of fentanyl powder. It's a historic rate, but it's not enough. We won't rest until this poison is off our streets.
▶ 0:32:23And finally, the 2026 budget continues my commitment to find savings in the department, reduce inefficiencies, and deliver value to the American taxpayer. In fiscal year 2026, the department will merge components that will work in overlapping areas and make our law enforcement and grant-making efforts more effective.
▶ 0:32:49We will emerge from this work as a leaner organization, better equipped to keep the American people safe. Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member DeLauro, Ranking Member Meng, it is my pleasure to highlight our efforts to be good stewards of these resources. I'm working diligently to restore confidence and integrity to the department and each of these components.
▶ 0:33:13Thank you for your continued support of the department's financial needs and for the opportunity to present our budget request. I also would ask all of us now to pray for our troops in Qatar. I look forward to working with you, and I'm now happy to take any questions you might have. We will proceed under the 5-minute rule, and I will you uh yield myself uh the first 5 minutes.
▶ 0:33:42As you know, Madam Attorney General, uh rural America, many parts of the including my district, uh continue to suffer from the lethal effects of illicit drug use and overdose How does your 06 year 26 propose to address drug crimes such as trafficking and the influx?
▶ 0:34:11What are you doing differently than in the past? Chairman, what we are doing, we are focusing all of our law enforcement agencies on getting these drugs off of our streets. Since I was a state AG, I focused on the opioid crisis. I focused with all of our agencies, all of our agencies working hand in hand on the drug crisis.
▶ 0:34:39Securing our borders, I believe, was the first step. We will continue to do that. On May 22nd, I believe, Chairman, we announced the operation um success of Operation Raptor, the FBI-led DOJ operation that targeted fentanyl trafficking on the dark web. That's become a huge problem.
▶ 0:35:01You know, with without a technology now, we have seen um drug trafficking increased not only across our borders, not only through the mail, but also on the web. And that um that's something I believe that we can all work together on. I believe that crosses party lines. That's something that we all need to work together on.
▶ 0:35:22We've seized 144 kilos of fentanyl, 180 firearms, and over $200 in currency and digital assets working with nine international partners, and arresting 270 drug traffickers across four continents.
▶ 0:35:46And that was all because of Operation On May 6th, we executed the biggest fentanyl bust in DEA's history. We dismantled a Sinaloa cartel that trafficked across five states: New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, and We seized 412 kilos of fentanyl pills, 11.5 kilos of fentanyl powder, and 49 illegal firearms.
▶ 0:36:16We arrested 16 accused drug traffickers. These cartels, these gangs, are so organized that they insulate their leaders. The leader of this particular was living in Oregon. Yet, none of the drugs were with him.
▶ 0:36:38This was incredible police work by all of our agencies, federal agencies working hand in hand to track them down. I met in conference rooms. We had charts and I I would invite any of you members on both sides of the aisle to come in and see these investigations of what we are trying to do to get these drugs off our streets. They are so complex. They are so complicated.
▶ 0:37:07And what our law enforcement have been doing is really second to none. And I am so proud. They are some of the bravest in the world. And I am so proud at what they have been doing, working with all of our state and local partners to eradicate these drugs. My point of that was in Oregon was the leader of this particular um this particular Sinaloa gang. And again, he insulated himself.
▶ 0:37:36But, we were able to catch him thanks to great police work and we will continue to do that. Well, congratulations. Thank you. And thanks for the invitation. I hope we can take you up on that. During his hearing before us, FBI Director Wray indicated indicated that a lot of precursor chemicals that originate in China are now being now going to terrorist that re-route the precursors
▶ 0:38:07into our through that northern border. What can you say about that? Yes, Chairman. That that's accurate. You know, I've been fighting this fentanyl epidemic since I was a state AG when it really first came on the market. Uh, you know, I ironically I was recently in Poland at a security conference with all of my counterparts around the world, and I will never forget something they said to me.
▶ 0:38:33Um, my counterpart in Poland said, "Fentanyl isn't here yet." Because they protect their borders. And yes, the northern border is now a great concern um to all of us. I would think to everyone on this committee. And yeah, that's it. That's a great concern, but we will continue to do that. We are fighting to protect um those precursors from coming in. As we know, and you know, what they keep doing is they're changing the precursors.
▶ 0:39:02And they continue to change them, and they continue to send them through Mexico, through Canada, on ships, through our ports of entry, into our country. But that's something we have to all work together on to stop. I went to our DEA lab. I met with our DEA It only takes, it looks like almost two grains of salt. I put I had them put sodium chloride in in a little bottle so I could show people. That's what it takes to kill you.
▶ 0:39:32And that's what our kids are taking. They don't realize that it is mixed in They think they're buying Xanax and Adderall. I can't I can't say this enough. An oxycodone pill, they think they are buying something else, and this junk is being laced, this poison, into these pills throughout our country. And that's something I feel like we can all work together on to try to stop.
▶ 0:39:56But yes, that was a Sorry, a very long answer to yes, it's coming in through our northern border, but we are doing everything we can to secure that. We are working with Homeland Security very closely, and they're doing an incredible job on that as well, Chairman. Yes, ma'am. Um, Madam Attorney General, I wanted to ask about a topic that's of great importance to many Americans and especially my constituents, which is about hate crimes.
▶ 0:40:23I'm I'm really troubled that your budget proposes to end the grant programs that may help prevent some of these hate crimes. As you may know, I was the author of one of these programs, the Community Based Approaches to Advancing Justice Program, which was created in fiscal year 2022.
▶ 0:40:41This program supported local groups working to increase hate crimes reporting, give community members resources in languages other than English, and to improve relationships between local law enforcement and the community. It was a direct response to the rise in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. You may recall in March 2021, six women of Asian descent were tragically murdered in Atlanta, Georgia.
▶ 0:41:11My Hate Crimes Act passed through Congress in May of that year with bipartisan support, including from several of my colleagues on the other side of the For years, I've been hearing from constituents about how scared they felt and have been hearing from members of these communities, as well as experts, who've told me that one of the best ways to combat hate in this country is to fund prevention programs. So, not just prosecution, but also prevention.
▶ 0:41:40I have a letter here that hate crime survivors and family members wrote to you in May expressing their strongest concerns about the termination of these grants. Signed by people like family members of Emmett Till, James Byrd Jr., Matthew Shepard, and survivors of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.
▶ 0:42:00I ask unanimous consent to enter into the hearing record this letter from these survivors and family members to Attorney General Bondi regarding the termination of hate crimes related grant programs. Without objection. Without objection. Oh, yes, without objection. Thank you, Chairman.
▶ 0:42:25Attorney General Bondi, I absolutely share your support for our law enforcement and for the prosecution of hate crimes in a just way, but we must combat all forms of hate on all fronts, bringing together law enforcement and community leaders and members of the public. And these grant programs have helped many communities do exactly this.
▶ 0:42:48Um so, I just wanted to ask and hear from you why there is a proposal to eliminate the three largest sources of DOJ funding for hate crime prevention programs. Yeah, and and Ranking Member, can you list those three for me again? And I'm I'm sorry, I have not received your letter yet, but I would welcome working with you on any issue regarding hate in the Asian-American community and any community.
▶ 0:43:16I welcome working with you on Yeah, I would love to and this letter was sent May 15th and we'll make sure that you and your team have received it. So, the programs one of them for example is named the community-based approaches to advancing justice.
▶ 0:43:34Three programs have been cut and one of these programs literally help support our law enforcement departments locally like our NYPD to train and respond to hate Let me so We have 5800 grants, Chairman, that come Ranking Member, excuse me, that come through my office. 365 have been cut so far. That's approximately 6%.
▶ 0:44:03What I will tell you is we have turned back on 13 of those so far because people have reached out to me. If you want to reach out and and talk to me directly, I will give you my cell phone. I would love to sit down with you and and see if if we can work that out. I'm sorry I'm not familiar with those three directly, but again, we will if you have on either side of the aisle any grants that you believe should be back on. I I would love to meet with you and work with you on that.
▶ 0:44:32We're doing that on a case-by-case basis and law enforcement is my top priority, especially hate crimes, violence against Everything I've done my entire career as a prosecutor. I think we have a former prosecutor in the room, too. And and I I look forward to working with you on this and seeing what we can do to help you. Great. We'd love to work together and we will flag all the programs that have been impacted, including those that directly support our local law enforcement like NYPD.
▶ 0:45:02And just to be more specific, the three programs mentioned are based approaches, Jabara, Higher, No Hate, and Shepard Byrd. No Hate Shepard Byrd. Thank you so much. Thank you. Mr. Gonzalez. Uh thank you, Chairman, and thank you, Attorney General, for being here today. You know, when the DOJ submitted their budget, the United States was a nation at peace. And now we're a nation at war. Uh so my questions are going to be focused on national security. Uh how many Iranian sleeper cells do we suspect are in the United States?
▶ 0:45:33Congressman, I I can't talk about that in this setting. Um but what I can tell you is I know Homeland Security, I know the FBI. They are focusing on doing everything we can to keep our nation safe and they will continue to do that. Um Yeah, it's it's a frightening time in in which we live right now, but President Trump is committing to committed to keeping all Americans safe and we look forward to working with you on that.
▶ 0:46:04Right, thank you. Uh how many active cases of threats to the homeland is DOJ currently have have open as of today? Countless. Um I I can't talk about those in the setting either.
▶ 0:46:17Obviously, anything pending um regarding national security issues, but there is not a day that goes by that we don't discuss the issues that you just brought up with me at the Department of Justice, but I also know that our counterparts at DOD, HSI, the State Department, and all of our agencies are working together to make America safe and in turn keep our world safe. This is very much on my mind.
▶ 0:46:47I spent 20 years in the military. I spent 5 years in Iraq and Afghanistan. These aren't Of course, these aren't dots on a board. And you know, not only American lives abroad, what we saw today are at risk, but it's also American lives here at home. And I don't want us looking back and going, "What if?" I'm I want us to as much as we can get ahead of it to give you the resources, the instruments that that you need to go out and make sure that we're preventing things from happening, not waiting until after the fact.
▶ 0:47:14Uh there was a there was a report, you know, a over 1,500 Iranian nationals that have entered the country illegally over the last several years. Do we know out of those over 1,500 how many of those are have been convicted of a crime? Yeah, I I I don't have the number of the conviction, but I it's well over 1,000 have entered. Yes, I don't know if it's quite up to 1,500, but yes, it's well over 1,000 have entered our country.
▶ 0:47:38And I can tell you we are on high alert, and everyone is is looking at that very just some things just don't line up as far as us I see the world is on fire now more than ever before, right? Once again, when this budget was submitted, we're a nation at peace, and now things have changed. I look at this, I see law enforcement and national security has a reduction of 645 million, over 1,500 You know, the notes I have, the FBI will implement cost-saving measures.
▶ 0:48:08The largest decreases will be in criminal, cyber, response, and service branches, and national security branches. FBI's criminal investigations, cyber, and international operations will reduce resources and support various various investigations and partnership. Additionally, the counterintelligence, counterterrorism, threat screening, and weapons of mass destruction programs experience reductions.
▶ 0:48:33I mentioned those things because those, in my eyes, those are the programs that we need more resources to, more manpower to. And not everything's about money. I mean, you alluded to this. A lot of times it's about being more efficient with the things that you're doing. I'd love to hear your thoughts on some of the way you're we're looking to get ahead of any problem sets. Thank you, and we can do more with less. Of course, you can always do more with more, but we're doing more with less.
▶ 0:48:58We're prioritizing, we're refocusing, and the budget request supports 7.5 billion for national security. Also, that's why it's very important, I believe, for all of you to support big, beautiful bill. The one big, beautiful bill gives us a lot of additional funding at the Department of Justice to carry out our mission. Um the Senate version gives us 11.82 billion dollars.
▶ 0:49:27Currently, the House version gives us 3.3 billion dollars. Hopefully, they will come to a compromise in there, but that's where it will truly help Department of Justice um combat all of the issues that you brought up and many others. And And thank you for your service to our country, especially now. I didn't realize that you had served in Iraq. Thank you. Yeah, no, of course. And And thank you for saying that. I mean, resources matter.
▶ 0:49:54And uh the big beautiful bill, we look forward to getting that uh to the president's desk as soon as possible. Once again, to give you the resources and the tools you need to get ahead of these problems that we see so clearly coming through. I represent nearly half of the southern border. The border is on my mind quite a bit. One of the questions I have I I I focus a lot on convicted criminal illegal aliens. Do we know how many illegal aliens have been convicted of a crime in the United Yeah, I can get you the specific numbers.
▶ 0:50:23I don't know, but many, I can tell you, our prosecutors are indicting and charging um illegal aliens constantly. Um violent crimes, rapes, thefts, um many crimes throughout this country. And yes, our our borders were were wide open. And and Congressman, I um back in September, I went to our border at um Yuma, Arizona. Not in Texas, but in Yuma.
▶ 0:50:50And at our border, what I saw um we saw IDs just dropped from every country you can imagine. El Salvador, Venezuela, China. Um every country you can imagine. And of course, I didn't see Iranian driver's license, but they are coming into our country. Yes, we know that's documented. But just walking into our country.
▶ 0:51:17And that's why Homeland Security, that's why ICE, that's why the FBI, that's why all of our agencies, DEA, ATF, are all working hand-in-hand to combat that and to keep Americans safe. And that is what President Trump is um committed to Thank you. Chairman, I yield back. Ms. DeLauro. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Just a a quick note before I get to my questions.
▶ 0:51:43Uh fentanyl seizures are down 30% compared to last year and that data is coming from the Customs and Border Patrol CBP. I have I don't make it up fentanyl seizures are down. At your confirmation hearing you asserted that you will do everything in your power to prevent illegal gun runners in our country. Your budget request for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ATF proposes a cut of 26% below the current level.
▶ 0:52:14How can you justify such a massive cut without inevitably weakening ATF's ability to help our state and local law enforcement fight illegal gun trafficking? How many ATF law enforcement officers and industry operations investigators do you anticipate will be lost to attrition as a result of this funding reduction you're proposing?
▶ 0:52:38I am a career prosecutor and I believe in keeping America safe, making America safe. First, what we're doing is ATF is going to be brought over with DEA. Everyone knows, everyone sitting up here, guns and drugs go together. They go together. We're going to make it more efficient.
▶ 0:53:01What I will tell you will not be happening is ATF agents will not be knocking on the doors of legal gun owners in the middle of the night asking them about their guns. They're going to be out on the streets, if I can finish, they're going to be out on the streets No, no, no, you asked me a question. You asked me a question and you haven't answered my question. So, they're going to be out on the streets working hand in Mr. Chairman, I'd like an answer to my question and the question is not being answered.
▶ 0:53:30How many ATF law enforcement officers and industry operations investigators do you anticipate will be lost to attrition as a result of the funding reduction you are proposing. You are proposing a 26% cut to ATF for fiscal year 2026 as well as a 4.4% cut to DEA.
▶ 0:53:52So, you're going to merge the two agencies together and then you're going to shortchange their resources so neither one of them will be able to do the job that they have been designed to do. You've got a 34% cut to the high-intensity drug trafficking areas program. No dedicated money at all for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
▶ 0:54:10So, my view, it's fair to say that the Trump administration proposal shortchanges federal efforts to stop illegal gun trafficking and federal efforts to stop the flow of dangerous illegal drugs like fentanyl. As I was attempting to answer your question very calmly, unlike you, Uh excuse me. I excuse me, Madam Attorney General. Answer yes or no. Tell me what the numbers are.
▶ 0:54:39I don't want to hear all of your filibuster about this. Go ahead, please. Tell us the numbers. So, we are reorganizing. ATF agents want to be out on the street. Okay, let me let me answer the question for you. I'm going to answer it for you. I I You know, Mr. Chairman, you give me a a certain amount of time and I have a high respect for you, but I don't have to listen nor do my colleagues have to listen to a filibuster when it's a simple question. But I have an answer to your question.
▶ 0:55:08It's what page 146 of the department's fiscal year 2026 budget and the performance summary explicitly says, and let me quote, ATF will eliminate 541 industry operation investigators, reducing ATF's capacity to regulate the firearms and explosive industries by approximately 40% in fiscal year 2026.
▶ 0:55:36ATF will perform fewer inspections. And the department summary goes on to say, and let me quote, ATF anticipates a reduction of approximately 284 support personnel and 186 agents based on historical attrition patterns. And these personnel cuts will impact ATF across various functions, unquote.
▶ 0:56:03If the capacity to regulate firearms industry is reduced by 40%. If you are losing 186 ATF law enforcement agents on top of that, it is clear the direction you are headed with this budget. Uh and that's what it is, isn't it? The proposal will weaken our ability to stop gun trafficking. And it will greatly reduce ATF support for state and local law enforcement that helps them prevent and solve violent crimes.
▶ 0:56:32It's a bad Do you want to hear my answer in 3 uh uh I I I I regulatory functions. That's We will not be having ATF agents go to the doors of gun owners in the middle of the night asking them about their guns, period. They will be out on the streets with DEA, guns and drugs together. They will We are not It will be attrition. We are not firing agents. They will be working have taken attrition?
▶ 0:56:59Can I tell you that they all want to be on the streets? They want to be doing their job. They want it, but you're getting them off the streets. They want to We're putting them on the They want to be working with the DEA. You are getting them off the streets. There's no clear And Mr. Chairman, I yield back my time. I yield back my time. Let's get some answers here. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 0:57:27And thank you, Attorney General Bondi, for being here today. You are, in my mind a breath of fresh air to our Department of Justice. Thank Um, so thank you for your dedication to the Constitution and for equal justice under the law. I am sorely impressed with your experience and how you have handled the Department of Justice so far.
▶ 0:57:50As we all know, under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of Justice, FBI, and ATF were dangerously weaponized to target President Trump and everyday Americans. Tactics more fitting of an authoritarian regime than a constitutional republic. From politically persecuting President Trump, then President Biden's chief political rival, to going after pro-life advocates like Mark Houck, the actions of the Attorney General Garland, Director Wray, and the DOJ leadership were unacceptable and unconstitutional, in my opinion.
▶ 0:58:20That's why I was very encouraged to see the President's FY26 budget commit to ending the weaponization within the Department of Justice and the FBI. And so, can you elaborate for me, how has the Trump administration's DOJ shifted away from politically motivated investigations and refocused on its core mission, prosecuting the most dangerous criminals? And you mentioned that a little bit in your in your opening remarks. So, if you can focus on the moving away part, I'd appreciate it.
▶ 0:58:48Yeah, thank thank you, Congressman Clyde, and thank you for that. And also, our budget includes $1.2 billion and agents for ATF. And those agents will be on the street with DEA. And thank you for letting me answer that question. Yes, ma'am. Um, and we are prioritizing resources, addressing illegal firearms and traffickers.
▶ 0:59:15And we will reduce regulatory efforts, including what I just said about the weaponization. That's how ATF, I believe, was weaponized in the prior administration. Also, they were arresting peaceful protesters, the Biden administration, at abortion facilities. No longer. They targeted Catholics at church services. No longer.
▶ 0:59:39No longer will parents be arrested at school board meetings because they care about their children. That has ended under this department. That's why Donald Trump won the popular vote and the electoral college by overwhelming margins. He made that crystal clear and that's what's happening now in our country. That weaponization has ended.
▶ 1:00:06These ATF agents will be on the street fighting drugs. I have been a career prosecutor. ATF has taken thousands of guns off the street since January 20th, working hand-in-hand with DEA. Drugs and guns go together. Core function. No more targeting and weaponizing our citizens by any of the agencies. Thank you. Thank you for that Thank you.
▶ 1:00:33Um I was delighted to see that the Department of Justice's fiscal year 26 budget also included a dedicated fund for a firearm rights restoration initiative. Can you describe this initiative a little bit and any other steps that your department is taking to restore the Second Amendment rights to Americans who were unlawfully or unjustly stripped of them by prior administrations? Can you talk about that a little bit, please?
▶ 1:00:56and that is a the pardon power, of course, falls with the president and he has been doing many pardons um on that topic and he will continue to do that, I am certain. Um also, one other thing about ATF is our seizure of firearms is up 33% from this time last Thank you. Wanted to add that. Thank you. Thank you. Um I was going to ask you about the merger of DEA and and the ATF and kind of, you know, if you'd elaborate on that.
▶ 1:01:26You've talked a little bit about it already. The um uh one thing that that I think is very important is that the ATF and Federal Firearms Licensees work together because truly FFLs are the front line when it comes to, you know, um illegal purchases and just the information that is uh is out there and and we can help each other as long as we have a good relationship with each other. And during the last administration, it was a terrifying relationship.
▶ 1:01:56I mean, you had the um uh the zero tolerance against Federal Firearms Licensees. I'm sorry, we're all human. Everybody makes mistakes, okay? And they're not intentional, they're just mistakes. And when you can lose your livelihood and you can lose your business and you can your employees can lose their jobs over simple mistakes, that's a real problem, especially when if you think about Federal Firearms Licensees, um they're the pathway to the Second Amendment of the Constitution. You know, they en- they enable individual participation in in the protection of liberty.
▶ 1:02:26I mean, that's what Federal Firearms Licensees do. So, I think it's really important to have that critical relationship between ATF and the Federal Firearms Licensees. And, you know, when when the inspectors, when the ATF went from um uh the Treasury to the Department of Justice and the inspection side of it, when the IOIs, when they were, you know, Industry Operations Inspectors, when they became Industry Operations Investigators, okay? You investigate crime, you really inspect records.
▶ 1:02:56That was concerning to me. So, um my thought was maybe we could move uh the IOIs to the Department of Commerce, but just would would would get get your thought on that. Yeah, and Congressman, that's the first time I've heard about that. I would love to meet with you and learn more about that. But, thank you for asking about the ATF DEA merger. You know, you know, in in the world in which we live, bureaucracy has been around for a very long time.
▶ 1:03:22And and just because things have been done one way for decades and decades, doesn't mean that is the most efficient way to do them in the future. And that I'm a career prosecutor. I care about ATF. I went to ATF's memorial service. We are doing everything we can to put those ATF agents on the street where they want to be. Anyone in modern day history put the years of prohibition are over. ATF they want to be on the street. They want to be working hand-in-hand with DEA.
▶ 1:03:53That's what they do. No redundance redundancy, no repeat of investigations. They are going to be working together and that's what this does. And I I they're all going to be it's going to be a great marriage between those two agencies. They're working hand-in-hand on task forces already. Now they will be working under one umbrella and it's going to be great for our country. Thank you very much. I yield back. Mr. Hurd. Mr. Ivey.
▶ 1:04:23Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I wanted to follow up on what Congressman Gonzalez raised with you um with respect to the new environment that we're in uh now with the uh essentially a war with Iran. a few mo- a few weeks ago uh your FBI director sat in the same chair and said he thought in the budget that was that's proposed um they're about 11.2 billion dollars short.
▶ 1:04:51He wanted an additional 11 1,100 positions uh that were got lost to attrition and 1,300 he wanted to have filled. That's before the uh scenario with Iran. I know you submitted the budget already and you want to stick with it, but please take another look. This is a new environment. I think the The that the Congressman raised are very valid with respect to the issue of sleeper cells and threats to domestically here.
▶ 1:05:17taking FBI agents off the street now is a bad There There isn't a worse possible time you could do it. So, please reconsider that and move in a different direction on that cuz we need more of them on the street, not fewer. Um Ms. DeLauro was raising issues with with respect to your budget. The IO The IOI cuts and the 86 agents that are going to be cut, too. Uh and the concern I have on that front, I know you're saying we need They want to be on the street, but there are ATF agents that do things that aren't on the street.
▶ 1:05:47So, like for example, the um the NIBIN work where they they match the cartridges to the guns um is critical. And I'm very concerned that some of the cuts you're going to make are going to impact that. And the NIBIN piece is a critical for state and local law enforcement like you you used to be um because a lot of them don't have the resources to track it down. And the information that they can get they can turn it around in 48 hours.
▶ 1:06:14So, the man who attempted to assassinate now President Trump, the connection that was made was through this uh apparatus, this approach. Same thing with the Minnesota assassin. So, that's an area where we we can't afford to have those kind of cuts, I don't think, at this time.
▶ 1:06:30Um and the the the performance of fewer regulatory inspections um you know, I had gun dealers in my district who um needed those inspections to take place um and important findings have been made certainly with respect to track tracking crime guns and cracking down down on um gun dealers who are working illicitly. I'm not saying they all do. I mean, many of them operate in the right way, but the only way to track it down is through inspections that have to be aggressive.
▶ 1:07:01And by the way, even under the current regime or the previous regime, I think some of them didn't get inspect for maybe every 10 years or so. So, it wasn't like it's it's a constant harassment piece. But, I've got some folks here in the the corner of the the hearing room uh who are from my district, Moms Demand Action, DMV mothers like me, Women's Missionary Society.
▶ 1:07:23I met with them a few weeks ago, and the concern was the issue of gun violence on our streets, and the desire to to make sure that the federal presence continues to push hard to make sure we close those You're reducing resources. You're taking eight You're reducing the number of agents. As Mr. Patel said, that's moving in the opposite direction.
▶ 1:07:44What response would you give to them with respect to the steps that you're taking to make sure not only that we stay safe, but we get even safer and do even more to get violent offenders off the street and get the guns off the street before the violent offenders get So, first, Congressman Ivey, you're a former prosecutor, and I'm smiling because I could see that in some of your questions. Um thank you for those questions. I'm going to try to answer them all in order of of how you asked them.
▶ 1:08:12You um you asked about the FBI, our budget, and um Director Patel clarified that in front of the Senate, I think, and and our budget includes $10.1 billion, agents for the FBI. I I think clarification would be gentle. It was a complete flip-flop on what he said when he was here. So, so, they three times by Ms. DeLauro just to make sure that he was right about what he had said when he was testifying.
▶ 1:08:40realignment of personnel to the field to carry out national security, which you just talked about, intelligence, criminal law enforcement, and criminal justice missions. Can Can I Can I Can I just keep I I only have 34 seconds to answer you, and I I've got four quick questions for you, and I'd love to get I'd love to get I'd love to get your answers. I'd love to get your answers in writing. Quick you were the Attorney General in Florida can I answer the question?
▶ 1:09:07you offered after the Parkland shooting I believe this is my time under the rules and I had Can we stop the clock? Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman The what I just said was if you could submit your answers in writing that would be great.
▶ 1:09:35I don't think I've made any kind of statement that's been accusatory with respect to her or her um her professional reputation. There's been no attack on her. These were just questions that were asked. I'm seeking the answers in writing which would be great. But I have a couple others that I'd like to ask too and we'll do them on the No, it hasn't. You cut me off when there were 30 seconds left. Yeah. Uh Well, that's true too.
▶ 1:10:06I a couple of you all went over like a minute and a half. almost 2 minutes. I I just like would like my 30 seconds back and then if she can submit answers in writing that'll be fine, but you know, but I want to get these questions while she's here. I want to ask the questions and she can submit the answers. This is my 5 minutes. I get to do it the way I want to do it.
▶ 1:10:33Under the committee rules and under the house rules, these are my 5 And as I said, I have not been disrespectful to this witness. I have Um when you were the Attorney General in Florida after the Parkland shooting, I my understanding is you moved to ban guns gun sales to people under 21.
▶ 1:11:01Is that a position that you would take now as the Attorney General? I have a bill HR2368 which does something like that. I would be interested in if you'd be willing to co-sponsor or support that bill. You also moved to enact red red flag laws allowing a judge temporarily to confiscate weapons when she he or she viewed that the person was uh at risk of of hurting himself or someone else. Is that a position you would continue to support now?
▶ 1:11:31And the last one is ghost guns. Um ghost guns I don't think you took a position on it back when you were uh the AG in Florida, but um we've had two bills come through here in the uh All uh Democratic co-sponsors. I think there's no argument that ghost guns have any, you know, appropriate use on the street. They're only help criminals avoid prosecution. Would you support a legislative ban on ghost guns?
▶ 1:11:57And with that I yield Thank you Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Meeng for uh having this hearing today. I'd also like to thank the subcommittee staff for their hard work. Attorney General Bondi, uh thank you for being here today. I commend you for your efforts to prioritize President Trump's America First agenda and commitment to making America safe again. As you know, I represent Alabama's 5th Congressional District which includes Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal.
▶ 1:12:26I'm especially supportive of the FBI Director Patel's plan for the continued movement of FBI personnel to North Alabama. My district has repeatedly answered the call to support our law enforcement agencies with a second-to-none workforce, cutting-edge facilities, and room for growth. Attorney General Bondi, do you support the FBI's plan to move additional personnel and programs to Redstone Arsenal and out of the Beltway. Thank you, Congressman, for your question.
▶ 1:12:57And yes, we are moving 500 additional personnel from DC to to Alabama, to Redstone. Redstone is a state-of-the-art facility. It will enhance everything we do, training for FBI, training for other employees, and Huntsville provides the most location with a distinct partnership opportunities, and we support all of that that's happening, and I look forward to visiting it one day.
▶ 1:13:27Could I have a couple minutes to answer a couple your fellow congressmen's questions? Thank you. He asked me about He asked me about NIBIN, and yet he didn't want to hear my answer. NIBIN means National Integrated Ballistics Enforcement Network. I'm very aware of that. We are not cutting that. ATF's receiving $66 million. It's an important program.
▶ 1:13:53And I know he would not intentionally attempt to mislead anyone by saying that I'm trying to cut that, but that's not being cut. I'm a career prosecutor. I've used that, I'm sure he's used it as a prosecutor. It's an important program that su- provides critical support to 7,200 state and local partners we work with. It's a key element to combat violent crime and and firearms.
▶ 1:14:20So, I am a huge supporter of NIBIN, and we will continue to do that. You asked me to talk to moms. I will always speak to moms in my office, in any environment. Yes, and I lived the Parkland shooting. I still talk to and meet with all of those families, both Democrat and Republican alike. I will continue to do that as a career prosecutor. Speaking of moms, I'm sure you met with um I'm sure you met with Patty Moral.
▶ 1:14:50Patty Moran. She is the mom of a murdered woman in your district. I'm sure you met with her. I'm sure he met with um Tammy Nobles, Kayla Hamilton, um that was her daughter who got murdered. So, yes, I'm willing to meet with any mom from any side of the aisle. And thank you, Congressman, for for letting me discuss that. Absolutely. Will the gentleman yield? Uh I've got I want to go move my questions.
▶ 1:15:18Uh in my district, we have the FBI, the ATF, DHS working together to address bombing incidents and use of explosives. The FBI's Hazardous Device School and Terrorist Explosive Device Analytics Center, uh affectionately known as TEDAC, the ATF's National Center for Explosives Training and Research, and the US Bomb Data Center are all located at Redstone Arsenal. As mentioned, ATF's National Center for Explosives and Training Research is a world-class facility located at Redstone.
▶ 1:15:46The center provides remarkable training facilities and specializes in life-saving explosives and arson's training. Can you uh discuss how merging the ATF with the DEA will streamline their activities while ensuring their critical and unique capabilities are Yes, absolutely. Um and yes, the National Center for Explosive Training and Research at Redstone, um it's it's pretty remarkable what they do.
▶ 1:16:12They oversee the canine operations, I believe, as well as the criminal profiling, the explosives, the arson investigations. And and I look forward to working with you. I look forward to visiting that. I really want to go to that facility. Um yeah, that's um there are no cuts planned for that. And that's where ATF and DEA, again, can partner together. The drugs and the guns go together. Those agents will be working hand in hand. The bureaucracy at the top will be gone.
▶ 1:16:42There will be no redundancy. They will be working hand in hand at that facility and many others throughout our country. Thank you. Mr. Attorney General, I just want to thank you how you represent yourself and you represent this country. It's a hard task what you have to do. You represent Democrats, Republicans, but what you have done in these first five months have reestablished the American people's belief in what the DOJ is to do for the American people. Mr. Chairman, I yield Does anyone else have questions? Mr. Morelle.
▶ 1:17:12Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Ranking Member Meng for holding this important hearing and thank you, Attorney General Bondi, for appearing before us today. Uh Uh Madam Attorney General, I serve in addition to the Appropriations Committee as a Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration. I sent you a letter last week along with my Republican counterpart, Chairman Bryan Steil, requesting increase in federal prosecutorial resources to address threats against members of Congress, particularly in light of what happened last week in Minnesota, that tragedy.
▶ 1:17:42Um in 2024, the US Capitol Police identified and received uh nearly 9,500 concerning statements or threats against members. Federal prosecutors have only secured eight convictions uh so far, and the heightened threat environment demands an all-hands-on-deck approach.
▶ 1:17:59Uh will you commit to assigning an Assistant US Attorney or Special Assistant US Attorney to each of the 94 uh federal districts to at least on a part-time basis investigate and prosecute threats against members of So, thank you for bringing that up, and I take that very seriously. Not only what happened in Minnesota was horrible. I've spoken to Keith Ellison. I've spoken to Amy Klobuchar about that. Um it's horrible. We are involved in that. The FBI was involved. Our US Attorneys are involved.
▶ 1:18:30Many of these are district to district. So, the way we're doing that is I will tell you my National Security Division is involved in all of those and assisting in those. We meet every single morning and we discuss that. But many of those, Minnesota, um will be handled in the state in which it happened. Another one is um So, may Governor I'm sorry, if I can keep going. I'm sorry. I I don't mean to I filibuster.
▶ 1:18:57Governor Shapiro and um and what happened in Pennsylvania with Governor Shapiro. I've spoken to Governor Shapiro. We are working hand-in-hand. Our US Attorney with the District Attorney there, hand-in-hand, just like in Minnesota. I made sure our US Attorney and our District Attorneys there were working hand-in-hand. Political party doesn't matter when something like this happens. And I also want to make sure all members of Congress are safe as well.
▶ 1:19:25Okay, and I would reiterate Chairman Steil and I I think I think Chairman Steil and I agree that at least a part-time in each of the 94 districts would be appropriate. Let me change topics for just a moment. And and and really quick on that. Yes, we're doing that through our national security division. So, I think that's already in the works and I would be glad to meet with you in a secure um facility to talk about that. Very good. Thank you.
▶ 1:19:48Uh continuing in addition to my uh role here, uh the committee that I serve on as an authorizer oversees capital security as well as federal elections. So, I'm closely following the aftermath of January 6th. Recently, several defendants who received presidential pardons related to that day are now arguing in court that the pardon crimes like for instance, illegal firearm possession discovered in a search of an individual's home in California months after January 6th.
▶ 1:20:16What's your position on whether the pardons cover these separate offenses? Uh the pardon power rests with the president, not the Department of Justice and some of that is pending litigation and I cannot discuss pending litigation. Well, I'm not asking you about who has the right to a pardon. I think as the Department of Justice in February wrote, the pardon is an act of grace which removes the punishment from a crime a person has committed. It further said, in its effect the granting of a pardon is in no sense the overturning of a judgment of conviction.
▶ 1:20:46It is an executive action that mitigates or sets aside punishment. So, as the chief law enforcement officer, what's your opinion, not the president's power whether he can offer a pardon? That's pretty clear in the Constitution. But, for crimes committed unrelated to January 6th, um are would you suggest that the pardons would cover activities or crimes potentially committed outside of that by the same Well, I don't know if you're referring to Joe Biden pardoning his son after he
▶ 1:21:16said he would not pardon Hunter Biden. We're the commutation of all the 6th. I'm sorry. all the sentences that um that the people that were on death row. I've met with those families. All of those sentences were commuted. I'm not going to comment on pardons on either side of the aisle. So, well, I I'm not asking about either side. I'm asking you're the chief law enforcement officer in the United States. You have a uh directly because you sworn oath to the Constitution, not the president.
▶ 1:21:45Want to know what your views are on the extent to which pardons cover potential crimes committed by individuals who've been pardoned, but unrelated to January Do you mean the ones that were done by the auto pen? I'm not going to discuss anything that Chairman, I respectfully I I you know, Ms. DeLauro accused you of filibustering. I think that's the height of filibustering.
▶ 1:22:08This is a serious serious topic and for you to suggest that you don't have an opinion or to divert to other things that have nothing to do with January 6th pardons. I think is frankly demeaning to your responsibilities and your job. With that I'll yield back. Mr. Cline. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Attorney General, thank you for being here today. You know, when I am home in my district talking to my constituents, they are concerned about their safety.
▶ 1:22:36They are concerned about the safety of their communities, the safety of their neighborhoods. And as we have spoken many times under your leadership, the DOJ has taken decisive steps to restore the rule of law, to tackle violent crime, and to hold both foreign and domestic bad actors accountable.
▶ 1:22:53I read your opening statement, and I just wanted to give you an opportunity go back again and talk about in light of four years of open borders, the drugs that are coming in, the sex trafficking, the human trafficking, the gangs that have moved in, the terrorism that has infiltrated the United States, the sleeper cells that may or may not be present in this country, the political prosecutions that we saw over the four years of the Biden administration, the fact that we are restoring integrity to the office and the rule
▶ 1:23:23of law. Can you restate for my constituents how the actions of the Department of Justice and your agencies are keeping them safe? Thank you, Congressman. And we have also been working hand-in-hand on a task force with your governor, with with Governor Youngkin. And we really we started a task force with Governor Youngkin, and that's something that we would like to take to every single state, both Democrat and Republican.
▶ 1:23:51And that's how we've been able to fight these gangs, these these organizations, these criminal organizations. And it was really remarkable, one of the top members of TDA was living 20 minutes from where we're sitting right now in And working hand-in-hand, regardless of political party, with state and local law enforcement officers the state of Virginia.
▶ 1:24:22We were able to dismantle a major major gang and there are so many gang members and he was another one who was living there. I think when he was arrested, he had multiple and ATF was involved in that. Multiple guns when he was arrested. But he did not have any of the drugs on him. He had insulated himself because he was one of the leaders of the criminal organization.
▶ 1:24:48And so these task force working together with Virginia have been remarkable. So that's one way to break it down what we've done and we're just so proud of the partnership that we've had with your state dismantling the gangs, the guns, the drugs and we'll continue to do that. And when you have that partnership, you can get a lot done. You can much done. secure a safer community for the people living there.
▶ 1:25:13When you have sanctuary states like California and who are preventing you from actually getting in there and actually getting the gangs off the streets, getting the drugs and the human trafficking off the streets. That hurts the people of those states.
▶ 1:25:30You know, when when the streets of Los Angeles descended into scenes more fitting of a failed state than a major American city, mobs setting fire to police cruisers and and looting entire city blocks, videos online showing American flags being burned and the flags of foreign nations being flown. Some carried by rioters proudly waving them through smoke-filled streets.
▶ 1:25:53The Department of Homeland Security has revealed new data saying that ICE law enforcement is now facing a 500% increase in assaults while carrying out enforcement operations. Can you describe what actions you've taken to hold these sanctuary jurisdictions accountable? And and I have a couple questions after Yeah, thank you to California And we have made it very clear. If you spit, I believe it was an ICE officer, someone spit on him, we charged them federally. We will charge you if you spit on a law enforcement officer.
▶ 1:26:24If you loot, under the Hobbs Act, that is a robbery, and we will charge you with robbery. We are going after the maximum penalty federally for anyone who touches a federal agent, and we are also going to protect our state and local law enforcement agencies and officers. The men and women every day around this country, whether it's a blue or red or purple state, are out there fighting crime. That's what they care about.
▶ 1:26:54They care about keeping every single one of us safe. That's what they're doing. They care about preventing drug abuse, drug overdoses throughout this country, and they jeopardize their lives every single day to keep us safe, and we are going to do everything in our power to fight for Do you think that these sanctuary jurisdictions, these cities or states should be receiving law enforcement grants if they refuse to uphold the law?
▶ 1:27:20That's pending litigation, Congressman, and I can't I can't discuss that right I think the answer should be no, but I'll leave that to the judges and and to this committee to decide. Thank you. Time of the gentleman has expired. Uh Mrs. Dean. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, Ranking Member. Thank you, Ranking Member. Thank you and welcome, Attorney General Bondi.
▶ 1:27:42Uh I I I just wonder, sincerely wonder, do you hear how hollow your last words sound in light of the pardon of all of the January 6th people, day one of this administration? I believe you're sincere. You want to protect law enforcement, but your principal, the president, pardoned every single one on January 6th.
▶ 1:28:10It rings hollow when you say these words, that if you spit on a police officer, we're we're going to go after you. Talk to my friends who are Capitol Police officers who were here. Five of whom are no longer here. They are dead. And this administration And I guess I want to ask you, did you have any advice for the president when he came forward with the blanket pardon on January uh I wasn't the attorney general. What advice did you offer the president?
▶ 1:28:36I am never going to talk about conversations I've Are you asked for a I'm never going to talk about discussions I've had and have not had I can't answer with the president of the United States. Did you Did you give him any advice? Yes or no? I am not going to discuss any That's enough. You put words in my mouth. I am not going to No, I'm going to reveal your own words. I am not going to discuss conversations I've had with the president of the United States.
▶ 1:29:05Attorney General, I would I would like to reclaim the last 20 I have asked to reclaim my time. Please put 20 seconds back on the clock. You have an extra 30. If the If the general She answered and then answered it again and answered it again with a non-answer. I ask for your consideration of putting time on. Let Let the witness answer the question. We will She answered it by saying no. Okay.
▶ 1:29:33The The three hallmarks of this administration are incompetence, corruption, and cruelty. I'm going to focus today on corruption. And in my mind, there are two types of corruption, personal and then the other I'm going to call public, Attorney General, have you ever been registered as an agent of a foreign principal under the Foreign Agents Registration Act?
▶ 1:29:59I assume you're talking about when I represented the country of Qatar for a very short time. Hold on. Hold on. No. for anti-human trafficking for the World Cup. Anti-human trafficking for the World Cup. You can't put words in my mouth. You want to talk about incompetence? You're the one that said Joe Biden on PBS was competent. You had to retract those words. So don't talk to me.
▶ 1:30:26Don't don't insult me This is so discourteous. This is so outside the committee's guidelines. Taking a personal shot at me while swiping at Biden. Very strange and very unprofessional of The answer is yes or no and the answer is yes. You were registered as a lobbyist for Cutter. Is that correct? Yes. Never mind. Don't answer.
▶ 1:30:53Did you disclose that when you went before for the Senate for confirmation? Yes or no? No, it was not in your documents. The answer is no. President Trump uh This was discussed at my confirmation hearings in detail. Well, it was discussed, but you failed to bring up the conflict that you had. President Trump recently announced he'd accept that $400 million Cutter airplane because it was just prettier than the one he was flying around in.
▶ 1:31:21Uh is it true that you gave advice that this was legally permissible? Yes or no? I will not discuss any advice that my Office of Legal Counsel gives to the President of the United States on any When you spoke before the Senate, you said you would ask for ethical advice. Did you recuse yourself from that issue? And talking about unprofessional, you say the President wanted a jet because it's pretty. Excuse me.
▶ 1:31:51is a Senate This is a confirmation hearing. said it himself. Uh let me go to April the 2nd. Uh you're a part of this you know, the the president uh uh, has dabbled in meme coin. Uh, he had you, the DOJ, disband the national cryptocurrency enforcement team.
▶ 1:32:15His son recently launched the executive branch club, a private club with uh, $500,000 memberships here in uh, DC. any of this seem like it might be a problem, might be a profit tearing from the office, and maybe you and your ethics team might be concerned about these conflicts of interest, your own and the president and his family. Yes or no? Any concerns?
▶ 1:32:41What I would be concerned about in Pennsylvania are all the child sex cases that we've prosecuted, all the CSAM cases that we've prosecuted Did you hear my question? I asked the witness to actually answer questions that are asked. Chair, chairman. Please let the witness answer the She didn't. And I would like to ask you one more question. You're not just complicit in this, you're actively helping and profiting.
▶ 1:33:08Isn't it true that on April the 2nd, the same day that Trump announced his chaotic tariff regime that plummeted the stock market, you sold more than $1 million worth of your shares in Trump media stock? Trump media stock fell 13% in the following days. Seems you avoided that loss. Well done. I yield back. May I answer that, chairman?
▶ 1:33:33I complied with my ethics, and yeah, I would take a class in financial literacy if you think I profited from that, because I lost a tremendous amount of money. Congresswoman, and also on page 25 of my SJ-2, it um, lists my involvement with Cutter for anti-human trafficking for the World Cup. Thank you. Mr. Moore. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for holding the hearing.
▶ 1:34:02Thank you, Attorney General Bondi, for being here. Um you just mentioned this previously, and I'm obviously as you're aware about the recently uncovered information about the FBI's egregious, politically motivated, anti-Catholic field memo, which um was disseminated to more than 1,000 employees. The Biden administration claimed that this memo only was circulated at the Richmond Field Office.
▶ 1:34:30It's now clear that this memo went much beyond just that one field office. This was a memo that suggested that Catholics, based on their theological beliefs and practices, were radical, and that their traditional parishes were vectors for extremism. The FBI went so far as to infiltrate and spy on Sunday masses.
▶ 1:34:56So, Attorney General Bondi, I'm grateful for your efforts to combat anti-Christian bias, including the task force you recently stood up. It's clear from both the original leaked memo and the additional documentation that has been released that extremist Southern Poverty Law Center was the basis for this anti-Catholic bigotry coming from the FBI. Will you commit to not use the Southern Poverty Law Center to determine who is a hate group?
▶ 1:35:26Committed to working with you um on that, Congressman. And thank you for bringing that up about Yeah, that was um that was horrible what happened to Catholics in that memo. Um it didn't just happen to Catholics, of course, it happened to um to parents at school boards. It happened to um people who were peacefully protesting at abortion clinics.
▶ 1:35:51That's the end of weaponization under the Trump Well, thank you for that, Attorney General Bondi. What additional resources can this committee provide to further execute your efforts to eradicate anti-Christian bias in the federal government? Yeah, we're committed to to working with you. Our Civil Rights Division led by Harmeet Dhillon is doing an incredible working on these issues and many more.
▶ 1:36:21Our Civil Rights Division, I met with her this morning. I talk to them almost daily and they are working to protect people of all religions and you know, especially now, I'm actually surprised that hasn't come up yet this morning but in light of everything happening with Israel, all of the anti-Semitic um things that have been happening around our country. I went to the crime scene here in DC of two young people who were leaving a Jewish museum and were gunned down simply because of their religion. It was horrific.
▶ 1:36:51It was horrific. And then in Boulder, Colorado when a Holocaust survivor was firebombed, a lit on fire because she was Jewish. And so it's not only Catholics, it's every religion and even mosques that were slow walked under the Biden administration and not allowed to open.
▶ 1:37:13We will protect every religion in this Well, thank you for your commitment to that and I truly appreciate it and I think everybody of faith in the United States appreciates that. And I just want to switch gears real quick to just another topic.
▶ 1:37:29In 2022, the DC Metropolitan Police recovered the remains of five unborn children apparently from a DC abortion mill which appeared to be the victims these five remains that were found victims of a brutal uh, partial birth abortions. As you know, Congress passed a bipartisan law outlining outlawing this gruesome practice in the early 2000s.
▶ 1:37:54Public reporting suggests that the president President Biden's DOJ directed the DC chief medical examiner to destroy the remains of the children without performing an autopsy, which the CME appears not to have done yet. Uh, General Bondi, will you commit to working with me and this committee to conduct a full and fair investigation into the deaths of these children to ensure justice is served for the DC 5?
▶ 1:38:22Yeah, and Congressman, that is a, um, ongoing investigation and pending, so I cannot discuss that in this forum, but on on a collateral matter, the woman who retrieved those five fetuses was convicted and she was pardoned by President Trump. And they were basically unborn babies is what is alleged in the, um, but I can't discuss it any further. All right, thank you, um, Mr. Chairman and thank you, Attorney General Bondi. I yield back.
▶ 1:38:54Mr. Mervin. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, Ranking Member. Attorney General, thank you for joining us today. Our law enforcement officers, first responders, and local safety agencies are the backbone of our In Northwest Indiana, I've worked hard to be, to bring critical federal grant dollars home, funds that directly support the brave men and women who protect us every day. Unfortunately, funding for 2025 has been rescinded, weakening our public safety framework and making our neighborhoods less safe.
▶ 1:39:21I first hand have a positive impact in securing dollars and investments for Gary, Indiana, East Chicago, Lake County, and Michigan City. Uh, that were force multipliers, that were technology, such as license plate readers, and the COPS grant. I'm asking you today, uh, what can we do to ensure that those funds are going to continue to flow to my district and in light of the high the high da I'm in Northwest Indiana, Gary, Indiana.
▶ 1:39:47We are a high da district where we have the Chicago traffic that's vitally important to my district. I just need commitments that that funding will continue to be going forward and that our agencies will have that support. Congressman, thank you for bringing that up. I'm well aware of the high da. I believe that's in Maryville. Is that And yes, that funding will remain where it is. We do not intend on on touching that funding. We want to protect high Very good.
▶ 1:40:15So, in light of the escalation with Iran part of our cybersecurity and our infrastructure when it comes to our our electric grid our banking systems, that is a new threat.
▶ 1:40:29Does this budget reflect increasing our cybersecurity protections and how is the Department of Justice going to protect our infrastructure when it comes to bad actors such as Iran coming directly at our our in a cyber attack? Yeah, we have $50 million for cybersecurity and also in the one With an M, $50 million? $50 million.
▶ 1:40:57Yeah, but also in the one big beautiful bill, it is also addressed to give us more resources. And you know, it's not only Iran, as you well know, it's China as well. But yes, I wholeheartedly agree with you. reconciliation tomato, tomato. In the reconciliation bill, can you tell me what more resources are going to go towards cybersecurity because I was under the impression that was decreased.
▶ 1:41:21Can I get you I will get you those I want to do everything I can to help you protect cybersecurity, all of us in this country. Not only again with Iran, but also with China and all of our foreign adversaries around the world. Okay. And then just a question of curiosity that I have director Patel was here couple of weeks And we talked about the emails that went to the FBI agents meaning please tell us what you did at the end of the week. Give us five reasons why you did.
▶ 1:41:51At first director Patel said that that didn't exist. Then he specifically said well that came from the Department of to the FBI agents and I his words I told them not to fulfill that obligation. How do you manage that if you give a directive to your director of FBI and he chooses not to fulfill that and where did that information go? So when someone from the FBI an agent fulfilled that obligation of giving you the information of what they were working on where did that data go and how is it secured?
▶ 1:42:22Yeah and Congressman I'd be happy to see who answered that but I have asked I asked when I learned about it I asked that it be withdrawn and it was that When you when you learned about the email going to the FBI agents you asked them to withdraw it. Who did you ask to have it withdrawn? My entire office and it was. So it is unknown who sent that email? Well the it came from my office but when I learned it went to the FBI we asked that it be withdrawn.
▶ 1:42:49Where is the gap of my understanding if it came from your office you telling me you didn't send it? I didn't realize it went to the FBI that email went out and the purpose of that email was to make sure just so you know it wasn't it was to make sure that these people were sitting at their desk and working and alive. That there were people actually responding it could have been I got up and got a cup of coffee. So without going into that it the people that did answer it where did that data go?
▶ 1:43:17I will find out and I will get you that And I only ask as a national security issue as they're working on sensitive issues and I thank you for joining us and I yield back my time. Thank you. Gentleman yields back. Uh that concludes today's hearing.
▶ 1:43:35Uh, I want to thank our witness, Attorney General Bondi, for being here Uh, we would normally like to do another round of questions, but we don't have Uh, the general lady, the Attorney has meetings scheduled, I think, at So, uh, we will not be able to do a second round because of that.
▶ 1:44:00So, uh, without objection, members may have 7 days to submit additional questions for the record. Subcommittee Subcommitee stands