The hearing is two hours. Good morning. The hearing will come to order. I want to thank acting secretary wolf for his service and for taking the time to come before our committee today. I know you have a lot of things on your plate. The committee appreciate you taking the time out to explain what has been happening and answering our questions. Your full testimony will be entered into the record. For my part, i will read my Opening Statement and then there will be a twominute video at the tail end of my statement. The federal protective Service OfficerDavid Patrick underwood was 53 on may 29 when he was shot dead guarding a Federal Building during a protest. His partner was also shot but thankfully survived. News reports of the protests involving approximately 8000 people turned chaotic and violent as demonstrators smashed windows, looted stores, and broke into a bank. The suspect had killed a deputy a few days before. His antipolice views drew him to oakland. He saw the protest as an opportunity for more bloodshed. David dorn was a retired police chief in st. Louis. He responded to the alarm going off at a shop owned by his friend during a night of antipolice protest. The chief, 77 years old, father of five, grandfather of 10, died on june 2 in the anarchy unleashed in st. Louis. Unfortunately, the violence did not end there. Yesterday morning, protesters in portland broke into a Police Association building and started a fire inside. Shots were fired. Slashed tires. It was the 69th straight day of what we are told are peaceful protest against the existence of police in portland. According to the department of Homeland Security, 277 attacks on police and federal officers have occurred during these peaceful protests. At least 140 officers have been injured in portland alone. 113 officers have suffered injuries to their site after protesters deliberately attempted to blind them with lasers and other weapons. At least 930 nonfederal Law Enforcement officers have been injured. One has died. At least 38 federal officers doxed in portland which means personal information about them were put online as a means of intimidation. At least 21 federal court houses been vandalized the summer. Protesters in nashville broken to city hall and lit fires. A woman charged this week was caught on video holding a poster reading, f the police. Then she lit it and tossed it into a window. Protesters in denver broke into a courthouse amplifiers. Protesters in minneapolis burnt down a police station. Others tried the same thing in seattle. A peaceful protest in oakland in aly intensified after courthouse was set on fire. During a peaceful protest in madison, at least one individual world the gasoline bomb into the City County Building which holds the cities 911 dispatch center. That night also included the beating of two individuals. One of them is a state lawmaker. These peaceful protests include arson and assault. They have left a mark on our cities, our culture and country. As a journalist recently wrote, for large metro areas like chicago and minneapolis, to small cities like fort wayne, indiana, and green bay, wisconsin, the number of boarded up, damage, or destroyed buildings i have observed, commercial, civic, and residential, is staggering. Keeping count is impossible. One might think a major Media Organization like the New York Times would use their journalist resources to tally up the wreckage for posterity. Roughly six weeks later, such a tally is nowhere to be found. While police were tied up with peaceful protests, homicides elsewhere were skyrocketing. By the end of july, homicides are up 53 in chicago. Chicago. In minneapolis, murders are up 86 . In milwaukee, 84 . New york, 29 . Seattle, 42 . Philadelphia, 33 . New orleans, 36 . Denver, 46 . Those numbers measure the loss of human lives. Many are black lives that dont seem to matter much to the movement. Some are children. Some are children. Their lives have been cut short. Children whose lives matter. Their names matter. In chicago alone, child victims , another 15yearold 15yearold was shot in the head. 14yearold rhonda jones junior, 10yearold lena nunez, sevenyearold natalia wallace, shot in a backyard party. Threeyearold nick i james, killed when someone shouted her father in traffic. Whenyearold sincere gaston, killed when somebody shot his mothers car. That is just since memorial day. In one city. These people died because criminals kill them. They may have also died because police were constrained and prevented from doing their job to protect them. When you encourage disdain for police, you encourage criminals. When you do little or nothing to stop riots, you unleash anarchy. When you encourage criminals and unleash anarchy, people die. All of us suffer. With that, i have a twominute video i would like everybody to watch. Its not easy to watch. T shows the reality [inaudible] in milwaukee democrat was assaulted by protesters. I had my bell rung. 10 people punched and kicked the politician while he was on the ground. Video shows carpenter later collapsing near the capital. [inaudible] senator peters. Thank you. I appreciate you being here today. I know you have an awful lot on your plate. I appreciate that time is precious. You have a very challenging role , especially in these unprecedented times. Im extremely disappointed with some of the recent actions this dhs has taken. They have put at risk your ability to effectively protect the homeland. However, dhs chose a response to the situation on the ground that is an acceptable. Instead of working together with state and local partners, you sent a surge of federal agents who did not have proper training to deescalate the situation. Their tactics caused additional tax chaos. Focus oned that the federal property is distracting the threat posed by domestic terrorism. Heldyear, the committee the first ever hearing focused on White Supremacy violence and domestic terrorism threats. We have seen far too many attacks in this country at the hands of white supremacist terrorists. Attacks that have taken the lives of our far too Many Americans. Americans were murdered in Shopping Centers or wallet worship by domestic terrorists with ties to white supremacist movements, your department failed to respond with the same urgency that we saw on the streets of portland. When one federal Protection Services officer was tragically murdered and another was seriously wounded in the mind of duty earlier this year, it was by americans with ties to boogaloo boys, a movement rooted in white nationalism. You still have not released a complete plan to combat white supremacist violence, nearly a year after a released of the strategic framework for countering terrorism and targeted violence. I want to know why your agency is not focusing on the threat posed by whites as premises violence with the same sense of urgency. I want to know why you run office of intelligence has no trouble sharing intelligence on journalists with police in portland but makes excuses for not being able to keep tabs on suspected domestic terrorists who frequent White Nationalist forms online. The department of Homeland Security and decisions made to keep our communities safe should not be driven by politics. Terrorism is terrorism, whether it fits the ideological narrative of dhs leaders or not. Must not let politics overshadow the truth about the Security Risk that are facing our countries. Instead of aligning your resources, personnel, and mission to tack the what the premises threat, you have chosen to focus on optics. I know our lawenforcement personnel put their lives on the line every time they go to work. I applaud congress to make sure that they have the resources they need to stay safe in the line of duty and return home to their families safe. Let me be clear. The decisions the administration has made in recent months have put dhs personnel at unnecessary risk. Because you chose to escalate conflicts, you risk officer safely, the safety of american civilians. More than ever, we need leadership at the department of Homeland Security. We need coordination with state and local officials. We need to focus on the most prevalent and deadly threats that are facing our country. I continue to hold the department can juggle its complex mission. What i have seen so far, it calls into question the administrations priorities when it comes to National Security. I look forward to speaking with you today and continuing to Work Together to protect our National Security and the security of the American People. Thank you. Please stand and raise your right hand. Do you swear that the testimony that you give will be the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so hope you got . Please be seated. Chad wolf is the acting secretary of the department of Homeland Security. Hes been serving in this position since november 2019. This role help he held acting surgery will. You again for the opportunity to testify today. While Many Americans are aware of the missions of the ,epartment of Homeland Security many are not as familiar with the Important Mission of the federal protective service. It protects federal property for almost 50 years and does so at 9000 Properties Around the country. This responsibility was provided through the secretary of Homeland Security by the United States congress. Portlandroperties in have been attacked by violent criminals, opportunists, and anarchists. I want to be clear. And went, we see nonviolent protests. The department is aware of the National Dialogue taking place around racism and Law Enforcement practices. We continue to support and defend every americans right to exercise their First Amendment rights. The violent activity i will refer to today is not associated with those protests. The violent activity we see occurring between midnight and 280 began roughly around may with the mayor of portland announcing an 8 00 to 6 00 curfew from a 30th to june 2. On june 1, due to the level of violence, the portland mayor asked the governor of oregon to activate the National Guard to help protect facilities in the city. Over the course of june, dhs monitored the situation in portland closely, began deploying additional officers into portland to protect federal facilities. Despite surging 20 additional officers throughout june, it was clear we were overmatched. Ofearly june, at the request officials in portland, i directed additional Law Enforcement aspects to protect federal properties and officers. Our officers have faced assaults from bricks, baseball bats, sledgehammers, molotov cocktails, fireworks, excel or rinse, ieds, and other violent weapons. Federal officials in portland have made 99 arrests. Dhs officers have experienced 277 separate injuries. They range from minor to serious to include several who may have permanent eye damage. I would like to play a short video of what our officers have faced. [inaudible] unfortunately, what was absent was the help from local Law Enforcement personnel. There was little to no assistance provided to protect federal properties. Was little o assistance provided to protect federal properties. State officials did not allow local Law Enforcement to police the area immediately around federal facilities. A nightly assault on the courthouse. Local and state officials did not allow Law Enforcement to make any arrests directed. 17, Law Enforcement agents were prohibited from accessing the Portland PoliceBureau Operation center. Portland citye council issued resolutions for all members of the portland give anyreau to not operational support. Officers, Law Enforcement officers were abandoned due to dangerous policies by local officials. We briefly addressed a statement from portland. Notenforcement officers are serving a general Security Agency. They have been deployed for an extensive period of time to one city that is portland. Law enforcement officers are not storm troopers. They are simple Law Enforcement officers in clearly marked uniforms, properly trained in using procedures and practices. To suggest our Law Enforcement officers should not be in enforcing federal law. Unlike local Law Enforcement, we cannot be directed to ignore. We will not shy away from our duties. The mayor of portland and the governor of oregon received phone calls. Stark no was thank you and please remove all dhs officers from portland. The governor reached out 2. 5 weeks later for state police support. As of today, Law Enforcement officers remain in portland. They will remain until we are insured the federal courthouse will no longer be violently attacked. We have seen a noticeable decrease in violent activity directed to the courthouse, make no mistake, there continues to be violence in portland. Over the last seven days, Portland Police have declared a riot on four different times. Numerous arrests have been made. Dhs Law Enforcement officers remain on alert. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today and i look forward to questions. Thank you acting secretary wolf. We hear about three things. Do you think it is a peaceful protest when people use lasers toward Law Enforcement officers . Sec. Wolf absolutely not. Is a peaceful when people throw bricks at Law Enforcement officers . Sec. Wolf absolutely not. Call the attack on the building a peaceful protest . Sec. Wolf no. Do you have an obligation with your job to save federal property . Sec. Wolf we shall protect federal facilities, we do not have an option. We do see people protest in portland every day. There are no arrests, no no injuries. All of this protesting was more peaceful. You see the video, you see what is happening to Law Enforcement officers. Very strong have feelings about that. Whether it is official or unofficial, people are confusing peaceful protests and violent activities we see therefrom midnight to 5 00 a. M. Every morning. Our officers are doing their best in very difficult circumstances. Time, theyjority of only come out when the courthouse is getting attacked. I think most reasonable americans and almost all Law Enforcement relies that is happening. Theere you surprised when mayor and the governor did not provide support to do the job of protecting federal property . Sec. Wolf i was. I think everyone understands oregon, portland, there is an environment there that we appreciate. Becoming very, very violent. If you dont hold individuals coming back to the courthouse night after night, it dhs icevironment facility for 28 days for individuals. Local officials did nothing for 28 days. [indiscernible] the green laser is a new tactic. We see it in portland. Cat is not the laser your or dog chases on the ground. This is a powerful laser. Permanent eyeou damage. Protection,wear eye we have several officers who will lose a portion of their vision. Have you heard any of them say, i am worried . Passionatelyfeel about what we do in portland. Law enforcement officers are putting their lives in danger. I thank you for that. They did not mention dhs Law Enforcement officers injuries while protecting the federal courthouse. That is all we are trying to do in portland. Sec. Wolf from a dhs underwood, officer protecting the courthouse, we have that injuries across the country that are not just specific in portland. Thank you. Thank you again for your testimony. [indiscernible] mr. Chairman, we heard ranking retary wolf talk about its hard to believe. [indiscernible] we are going to be looking into the reaction in portland. [indiscernible] question, would you agree critical in this complicated mission you have . Officials andl wide range of topics with election security, protecting our borders, cybersecurity, natural disasters, all of those things are under your purview, that we need to have a relationship with local officials to effectively conduct that mission . Why does not not occur here . Sec. Wolf we have been talking, over 60n oregon for days. We continue to ask them to get involved. What we see is local police making arrests. Directed at is Portland Police facilities or city facilities. They would not engage, they would not make arrests. These violent individuals are staging in city blocks. That onght they have city streets. They are attacking the courthouse. We continue to engage with them. We have over 60 days. The city Council Passed resolutions that prohibited Portland Police from coordinating with federal Law Enforcement. Police an area where hold together to d econflict, that is not happening in portland because of some of the city resolutions passed. [indiscernible] there was no respect for coordination with the wishes of local authorities. [indiscernible] sec. Wolf walking through the coordination we try to do with Portland Police. The mayor, the south mayor on several occasions. The events that are occurring , 00 to 5 00 a. M. Every morning that they have commented on dhs actions show they know what is going on in portland. They confuse people protesting between 6 00 and 7 00 p. M. Until 10 30 at night. See at midnight to 5 00 a. M. Is violent activity where we get no support from state and local officials. [indiscernible] what are you doing to work with officials participating in relationships critical to accomplishing the mission . Portland is different than any other city across the country when we talk about protecting federal property. We need a cooperative relationship between federal, state, and local officials like any other city where we have federal property. State and local law officials. Artner with us it is different than what has been occurring in portland for over 60 days. [indiscernible] portland is very, very different. We see targeted attacks in atlanta, seattle, and other places. This village hes have been damaged. What we see in those cities is state and local law officials partnering with us. In holding those attacking accountable. Operation legend with the department of justice, that targets the violent street crime. Narcotics, firearms, things of that nature. Dhhs are partnering with the department of justice on that, but it is very different activity than what we are doing in portland. [indiscernible] something you will commit the resources necessary to combat . Department violent extremism. In portland and other cities around the country. A different position of the department developing strategic framework for terrorism and targeted violence in september of 2019, outlining the dangers we are seeing in violent white supremacist extremism. We have a plan that you referred to in your Opening Statement. Security from fema. Also communities that will also protect them. Our cybersecurity over Security Agency works with partners and making sure those are short up against violent attacks. What you really need to do is implement the plan. None of it is actually implemented. It comesf urgency when to creating a plan. What is your timeline . When will we see actual, concrete action . Are implementing many of the initiatives in that strategy. Datel give you an exact and when we can get the Implementation Plan up. We will provide that as quickly as possible. [indiscernible] sec. Wolf getting back to the Ranking Members question about the partnership between federal Law Enforcement and state and local Law Enforcement, what we have seen is across the country it works in city after city. Unfortunately what we saw in portland was the lack of. Allowing the violent individuals to begin, to continue to attack the federal facility night after night, no repercussions. They became more emboldened night after night. Usedof the weapons they became more and more sophisticated and adversative. Things that can be thrown at an officer. Night after night 30 days in, 40 days in, there is no consequence. Then they come back with commercial grade fireworks, then they come back with power tools, they keep coming back. There is no accountability. Making sure that there is a Close Partnership with Law Enforcement and local officials. We see that in every other city around the country. Good point. A [indiscernible] be able to coordinate and Work Together and do it well. What could we have done to try to make this work better . Is erstanding [indiscernible] [indiscernible] sec. Wolf but we are doing in portland is protecting a federal facility that has been under attack for 60 days. Is noton legend protecting federal facilities. It is more street crime. With the dojering as they go out into different cities, specifically chicago is where we are most engaged. Every day, drug trafficking, money laundering, and violent crime. With fbi, theing marshals service, in specific cities like chicago, but across the country as well. Regarding operation legend, the coordination and communication there. My understanding is most of operation legend initiatives are being brought by attorneys in the various cities. Making sure that that partnership and communication is there. [indiscernible] , mr. Chair, Ranking Member observations to [indiscernible] David Patrick underwood, the officer that was killed [indiscernible] the dhs office of intelligence and analysis compiled intelligence reports about journalists and protesters involved in the portland protests. A second story stated that he waved the requirements that dhs is Intelligence Office be subject to a review by dhs internal civil rights watchdog. Thats extremely problematic. Dhs relies on public trust and cooperation as embodied by the sea something, Say Something campaign. The American People expect the dhs activities to be done in a manner consistent with our values. Its disappointing to hear that dhss own internal mechanisms are being circumvented or arbitrarily discarded. As ive heard you say, the matter is being investigated by the department. Can you confirm who is leading the investigation . Sure. Office of the Inspector General is performing that investigation. You mentioned two different issues. They are being conflated. Let me explain the situation. Opensource reporting program at dhs has been in existence since 2011. There were three instances that i was made aware of of information being put out that also identified media or press individuals. As soon as i was made aware of what was occurring, i stopped the program and practice. It removed the individual in charge of that directorate. My time is limited. Is it the only investigation going on at that issue . Of that specific issue . Yes. We have an oversight function that is also looking at that. Is, if i want to get to you have another internal investigation, given his Parent Involvement in the waving of the requirement of the dhs activities, will he recuse himself from any matters related to that investigation . It is separate and apart from anything that i would be involved in. You mentioned an internal investigation. It was a preliminary investigation. As soon as the ig picked up the investigation that is now the only one. I think they are being confused. We have raw intelligence reporting and finished intelligence product. Himself. D there was an issue with finished intelligence reports. Theres a disagreement between cr cl and the office of intelligence and analysis. It would normally come to the deputy secretary to resolve. He removed himself from that. We left it with the undersecretary. Cr cl played a role regarding collection requirement of raw intelligence as well. It is important to separate those things. Open source reporting is raw intelligence. Will followup with you on that. I want to major we understand it. Its a concerning report. I appreciate the idea of taking it on. I want to move on to Something Else. As dhs personnel protecting Federal Buildings and their occupants. Its critical that they take all possible steps to try to deescalate any confrontation. Both to protect themselves and others. I want to build on that line of questions about what dhs couldve done better. Two of your predecessors at the department, who both served under a republican administration, have expressed concern that that wasnt what happened in portland, deescalation. Our nations first dhs secretary and former governor of pennsylvania says the way officials were acting was not defusing the situation, it exacerbated it. Similarly, former dhs secretary Michael Chertoff recently said dhs forces have taken a very belligerent tone. Their actions have poured gasoline on the fire of the situation that now threatens to undermine the Publics Trust in the department. Have you spoken with these former secretaries . Do you agree with them that dhs should seek to deescalate tensions in the field . I have spoken to both former secretaries. I walked them through what was going on in portland. They asked a number of questions. At the end of that conversation , they thanked me. They did not know all of the facts. That informed their decision. We have to deescalate. A lot of the training as well as support in our training is deescalation techniques. When you look at five hours every night, we are inside of the courthouse 95 of the time. We only come outside when there are fires being set, anywhere when theres enough individuals, thousands. Weve seen anywhere from 500 to 5000 individuals. At some point, we do have to disperse. We have a number of tactics that try to deescalate the situation. , what i would appreciate understanding that im out of time, i would appreciate material from your department about the type of deescalating training that you do. I also want to follow up. I would appreciate further conversation about what youve learned about what works and didnt work. Weve seen very disturbing video here today. Theres also very disturbing video where federal authorities are using batons on people who appear to be peaceful. Right . Those are the types of things that can escalate, along with decisions, tactical decisions your forces may make. I would appreciate following up with you. Thanks to the professional men and women in your service for their service. Thank their families for us. One clarification. The video we see with the baton hitting the navy vet is not dhs Law Enforcement. Again, thats why and clarity about what you are doing and who you are, clear identification makes a difference. Senator paul. Matter. Lives saying it so doesnt make it so. Slogans dont necessarily save lives. Its important to know the majority of lives lost in our cities is young black men. N our cities is young black men. It is unconscionable. It has gone on for a decade come after decade, after decade. Precincts ino five our country. Trying to save lives one at a time. Strong male role models acting in a peaceful way. Ive been to ferguson. Chicago, lamented that the rioters burned down the local pharmacy and now they had to drive 15 to 20 minutes into the suburbs to get prescription drugs. It is unconscionable. Cities and on in our made worse by lawlessness and the mayhem. It is a political one. All of these cities are run by democrats. Everyone of the major cities run by democrats. Governors, mayors, police chiefs, all democrats. You can say it is a coincidence. You look at the murder rate. The top 10 cities with the top murder rate in our country, everyone it is a democrat. We have to get to the bottom of this. We have to figure out some constructive way to make it better. We have to first realize democrats have failed everyone one of these cities. If your city is under attack the twoyearolds and fiveyearolds being shot through windows and doors. Who is running the city . And graffitians and throwing molotov cocktails is not getting anywhere. Instead of throwing molotov cocktails, maybe we should gather signatures to recall the mayor. Maybe we should call the mayor of chicago. It has been going on decade after decade. Black lives do matter, but if they matter do something about it. Those at the receiving end of this, the young black men dying in chicago and dying in these doing thesanity is same thing over and over again. Quit electing the people who are allowing your cities go to rot that are allowing drugstores to be burns down and allowing businesses to be burned down that will leave the community and never come back. It is a disaster in our country and people need to to the people who are running these cities for over 15 years. With regards to who should do this, my preference is that it is done locally. The congress has ordered these police power should be exercised in the city. That we have federal officers in our cities and states taking care of things even as serious as arson. I do understand when there is random chaos somebody has to protect the Federal Buildings. My preference would be that if that has to that has to happen that they stay at the Federal Buildings only committing those who commit violence when they are committing violence. That we are careful in allowing federal police and allowing people in these federal Police Forces into our city that there are dangerous and one of the checks and balances of federalism was to not let the executive branch have police in our city. I think we need to be wary of the possibility five federalize and Police Powers perhaps not your department, but the images of the young man being shot with a rubber bullet who had his skull fractured and whilefractured simply holding up a speaker. Federal authorities have not necessarily been steeped in the training it takes to be able to protect lives but also not get in the way of peaceful protest. We have to acknowledge there is a chaotic situation and it has been. Moreld say that the constructive way of doing this would be to assess who are the officials, who are the political officials that run these cities and how have they led us down . Time and time again democrats for 15 years running our cities and letting us down. That livesa family on the southside of chicago you need to ask yourself who is in charge of this city and why arent they doing something to protect my children . Still bechildren shot and saccade go, why are local officials doing nothing . The answer is democrats have done nothing for 15 years and the people who live in cities need to make a reassessment of who is in charge of our cities. The idea of Police Powers and that police power should reside within the states and not the federal governments, you have a comment on that . Sec. Wolf federal protective service through Laws Congress has passed has been given the authority to protect federal facilities. When we talk about everywhere else in the country outside of portland, and he that need to be made, because there are individuals targeting or committing crimes laws usually done by local enforcement so i would agree with you. Confront these individuals and work with the u. S. Attorney. For 60 days in portland we did not see that occurring. Nobody was holding these individuals accountable. Night after night they would do their violent acts and nobody would hold them accountable. The dhs has been put in a position where we had to start making arrest and holding these individuals accountable. All of the arrests took place on federal property or within one to three blocks of federal property. There seems to be a feeling that we were across the city. We were only targeting individuals that we know and violentbased on activities and criminal activities. Senator wilson . Thank you, mr. Chairman. [indiscernible] it hasto talk about been one year since the domestic terror attack in el paso where 23 americans lost their lives after a white supremacist tried to intimidate the Latino Community. According to the fbi White Supremacists are the nations most significant domestic threat. Statistics show that racial accounts for the majority [indiscernible] instead ofly, assessing the root causes of violence, this administration is using the domestic terrorism label to come down on Peaceful Protesters exercising their First Amendment rights. To justify federal Law Enforcement in portland [indiscernible] have accused demonstrators made up of students, veterans, mothers, and nurses fighting for Racial Justice [indiscernible] Peaceful Protesters and terrorists is a tactic commonly used in autocratic societies, not in democracies. [indiscernible] the mission to keep americans safe from violent extremism, whether it is violence targeting the Latino Community in el paso, the Jewish Community at the tree of life synagogue in pittsburgh, or any other americans. [indiscernible] do you agreef, with the fbi assessment that the top threat we face from domestic down to racially motivated violent extremists, particularly sen. Rosen what i wouldve sec. Wolf what i said on our strategy in 2019 we do support a growing threat problem of domestic individuals in the u. S. To include White Supremacists and extremism growing here. We see the number of incidents rising. Question that the department has taken a number of steps to address that. Let me comment briefly on it, you made i strongly disagree with. Way is enforcement in no cracking down on Peaceful Protesters in portland. I would like to claim my time back. This administration to combat domestic terrorism including by [indiscernible] to prevent White Supremacism from escalating. Sec. Wolf yes. Again we have increased the number of funding tower Grant Programs for targets of violent terrorism prevention. We have a number of individuals dedicated to this mission. From the dhs perspective we dont investigate, that is the department of justice. In information sharing and outreach to different communities to make sure they have the resources they need to respond to this. The department is doing that and the Grant Program is going out and we have increased the number of staff and we are our strategy to address all forms of violence and extremism. Sen. Rosen can you tell us about the amount of [indiscernible] from portland [indiscernible] i dont have a ourific dollar figure in efforts being deployed to portland. We deployed to portland because a federal courthouse was being set on fire every night. Sen. Rosen [indiscernible] we will certainly provide that to the committee. Sen. Rosen thank you, i appreciate it. [indiscernible] [indiscernible] first responders, medical professionals [indiscernible] the Supreme Court recently cited against a administration in a request to end the daca Program Including the termination of daca be remanded until dhs secretarying the dhs to protect dreamers by preventing the daca program from being terminated. The memo [indiscernible] action toppropriate reject all entities and secure requests for dhaka [indiscernible] this memo clearly ignore the u. S. Supreme courts decision cis continuet u. S. To accept and process daca renewal applications. You went on to say that i conclude this policy prevents [indiscernible] again, the decision to resume the daca program adversely affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of americans in the midst of the than19 pandemic more 200,000 Daca Recipients have been [indiscernible] [indiscernible] my time is up. You wanted to respond to something . The Supreme Court decision obviously [indiscernible] in no way does the Supreme Court decision tell the department to process new dock applicants daca applicants. It did not say the program is lawful. It said dhs has the authority to rescind the courts did not like the way we had done that. Tomemo that i signed is continue the program under certain parameters. As the senator said, no new dock applications daca are being received. We did that because we have ongoing serious concerns about the program that we are working off of the Supreme Court decision. We will work through that carefully and consider everything the court laid out. We did not want to continue to operate a program that had serious reservations goes against congress possibly is. Andll continue to process renew applicants as we have done before. Is there Something Else you need to see that you wanted to respond to . Sec. Wolf there were several. Dhs Law Enforcement officials are cracking down on Peaceful Protesters. That is a narrative that continues to be put out there and it does this service to the men and women of Law Enforcement at the department. In no way are we doing anything regarding Peaceful Protesters. I have said this time and time again. There are hours of peaceful processing that occur every night. There are no incidents or arrests or injuries. That is not what is occurring that our Law Enforcement is dealing with. Secretary, thank you for your work. The men andtude for women of Law Enforcement that serve around the country. I am astounded at the conversation i have heard during , but about these men and women that are serving their every single night. Thank tell their families you. They are sending out their loved and as wertland discussed peaceful protests across the street your Law Enforcement has had 277 injuries. While folks here want to blame the police, please tell them thank you. They have suffered chemical burns, being hit with bricks, shot with pellet guns, largescale fireworks fired near pointers had laser used. Members of this Committee Talk about peaceful protests and about your Law Enforcement being the problem. I dont think. I think they are defending federal property. Which is what this Congress Told them to do. This whole focus on defund the downe and just walk away and saying that is better, i do not agree with it and millions of other americans dont agree with it for the men and women that are on the frontline, tell them thank you. That we are exceptionally grateful for their work and i do not believe that they are the problem. Has ashink that has been stated i know they have been shot at and had things thrown at them. Blowing on them. There are two sides of the story. Please tell them thank you. I do want to ask you a series of questions. Let me kind of walk through this. I have heard over and over again that your federal Law Enforcement are going out in the streets and targeting peaceful adjusters. Are you cracking down on peaceful protests . Sec. Wolf absolutely not. Sen. Lankford your federal agents are unmarked wandering the street and have no police markings. Do you have federal Law Enforcement in portland that are not labeled as police . Sec. Wolf absolutely not. We are a uniform department and have nine operating agencies that wear different uniforms. All of the uniforms should be marked with police. They have patches on their shoulders that should identify them as police. Here individuals are out in officially a half square block. The 30th or 40 of time you know who they are. You come there have also been accused of not wearing nametags. Sec. Wolf they are not wearing their nametags. Not only if their personal information is put out on twitter, but individuals we pulled all of their nametags off and put a unique identifier, numbers and letters on the we can keep track of them and accountability. Sen. Lankford thank you for that. Sec. Wolf i have heard these are note out there that deescalating, they have been pulled from places and causing the violence. Our federald protection Service Officers are trained for this. Have areials that we specifically trained for this mission. They do at ports of entry. Over the course of years they are this is what these individuals do. This is what they do at detention facilities when riots take lace. They are trained in deescalation and crowd control. Send ot sen. Lankford i have heard that federal agents are wandering the streets of portland harassing people randomly. Snatch and grab is what i am hearing. They are out there unlabeled, unmarked, grabbing people off the street putting them in unmarked cars. Sec. Wolf we use unmarked vehicles. We try to deescalate the situation. Throwing a molotov cocktail at the federal courthouse. We try to go into the middle of that group, thats dangerous. We try to keep track of those begin tols and then question that individual or rest that individual when they are away from a group to deescalate the situation. On 99 arrests happened federal property or within two to three blocks of that federal courthouse. Sen. Lankford i have heard you are not cooperating with local Law Enforcement or local officials. They are depicted by democrats on the committee as so cooperative and helpful and friendly but you have not reached out. As i go through your report, the day when the Portland City Council voted to prohibit their Law Enforcement from cooperating with you, engaging with you, and he kind of sharing of information, the day that they voted for that this was a report from the night before. The report was that around 10 20 local time they began their nightly assault on the courthouse. The barricade in front of the courthouse and assaulted officers inside of the courthouse. After repeated attacks from rioters with plywood coverings from the courthouse began to buckle. Groups of rioters vandalized an entrance with spray paint. In response to the rioters federal officers were forced to leave the building in order to repel them off and when they did assaulted with lasers and objects designed to inflict harm. Redirect people in the courthouse using cars to block the movement on the streets. Using wooden boards to block the courthouse entrance. When officers fired their own projectiles from the courthouse. Also this story. In the Early Morning hours of july 22, the day of the vote when they said police could not cooperate with you, a group of individuals gathered near the federal courthouse and several members of the group began removing plywood attached to the building to protect the damaged glass. After the group removed the plywood they made multiple attempts to kick in the window, struck it, and shortly thereafter a number of people successfully removed the wooden structure protecting the courthouse entry and an individual broke a window. Connecting the object placed inside the broken window. In closet exploded proximity to Law Enforcement officers exiting the building through the broken window and injuries were sustained. That was the night before portland voted to make sure Law Enforcement would not cooperate with you. These are the peaceful protests that are occurring that members continue to blame your officers as the problem when that is happening on the streets. Thank you for clarifying what the news is not reporting. Tell your folks thank you for setting up standing up for what is good and right. A clarifying point. I dont see him on board. Senator harris . Sen. Harris congress has a responsibility to ensure that the Census Bureau completes the poll and answer the 2020 census free from political interference. In the last week the Administration Made clear that it is overriding the Census Bureau protection by forcing to limit by one month regardless of the quality and accuracy of that data. This political interference communities and low income communities for the next decade. I urge you to schedule a hearing on this topic because we have a duty to ensure a fair and accurate census. Sec. Wolf we have already reached out. When a hearing will be scheduled. I have reached out to the department. Sen. Harris i appreciate that. Secretary, reporting that you regularly talk to the president and stephen miller. Have you discussed the deployment of dhs agents to protests in connection with the president s reelection efforts and did the president or any of his staff, white house or Campaign Staff . Sec. Wolf i am not able to comment on my discussions with the president or his senior staff. All the events that have taken place in portland or the events you hadris have appointments with his Campaign Staff . Sec. Wolf discusseds have you the deployments with any of the president s Campaign Staff . Sec. Wolf no. Sen. Harris has the Party Affiliation of particular mayors or governors come up in any of your conversations with anyone about the deployment . Sec. Wolf not in my conversations. Sen. Harris are you aware of any conversations like that . Sec. Wolf i will not comment on any privileged conversations i have had with the president. Sen. Harris so you will not comment on whether the Party Affiliation of the mayors or others has come up . Wolf i see where you are going, im not going to comment specifically on any discussions i have had with the president or senior staff. I can tell you that our deployment of Law Enforcement officers to portland was to support and noter dhs authority for any politically specific reasons. On july 23 a uniteds Federal District court judge ordered dhs and u. S. Marshals to stop arresting, threatening, our using force against journalists or legal observers. I am assuming you were aware of that. Any tell the committee what you did to inform that your agents about that ruling and when did you inform them . Sec. Wolf it was that evening i believe. It came down in the afternoon. We work with a council along with the department of justice to make sure officers in portland were specifically aware of that by what method did you inform your agents in portland . Sec. Wolf our office of general counsel at headquarters, a liaison there had a lawyer in portland and briefed all of our Law Enforcement officers. Sen. Harris [indiscernible] sec. Wolf i believe that the individual component and only not sen. Harris is that your normal protocol that the secretary would not directly inform agents on the ground of a court ruling regarding these parameters they are enforcing . Sec. Wolf [indiscernible] cspan. Org general counsel would inform them and the individual component heads of those additional Law Enforcement agencies would inform them as well. Sen. Harris on july 24 [indiscernible] inaw student studying portland attended the protest and was wearing a patch identifying her as a legal observer. A federal agent shot her with a rubber bullet near her heart at pointblank range. Was there any disciplinary action taken against that agent . Sec. Wolf i am unaware of that specific incident. No dhs Law Enforcement officers in portland used lover bullets. Sen. Harris you have not been informed of this in any manner . Sec. Wolf not that specific one. Dhs Law Enforcement officers do not use that type of munition. Sec. Wolf will you follow through with this committee and ask your staff if they are familiar with this case . Sen. Harris will you ask and answer to this committee when you have checked with your staff if they are familiar with this incident . And if it was one of your agents, was any disciplinary action taken. Sec. Wolf it was not one of our agents because we do not use that type of wet weapon. Agents are using military flashbangs that look like bombs and make people feel like they are going deaf. Have you consulted with medical experts on the impact of chemical irritants on protesters including pregnant women . Sec. Wolf we have looked at a variety of our less than lethal munitions in regards to crowd control. Sen. Harris have you checked with medical experts about the impact of chemical year attends on pregnant women . Sec. Wolf not on pregnant women. Sen. Harris i would like you to do that. Sec. Wolf any of the munitions we used in portland occurred between midnight and 5 00 a. M. Every night. Sen. Harris i would advise you women in these protests, i would advise you there are mothers including pregnant women who are attending these protests. I would advise you to consult with a medical expert to determine the impact of chemical irritants on pregnant women. Moving on, have any dhs personnel been suspended, terminated, our otherwise disciplined for using Excessive Force at a protest . Sen. Harris are you referring to portland specifically have there been complaints investigated by your agency . Of. Wolf the office civilrights and Civil Liberties has received complaints. And when were you informed of those complaints and any investigations . Sec. Wolf they are looking into them. Into thatg is looking and has an open investigation. Sen. Harris at what point does it come to you . Sec. Wolf thank you. Thank you mr. Chairman, mr. Secretary. If we hear your estimation that the riots occurring in portland are coordinated and organized operations against Law Enforcement, we have some involvement there and organization there. Rioters, theat the firing rioters who are edition to our tactical teams [indiscernible] shows to target a courthouse . Is there symbolism here . [indiscernible] what we did was very specific about it. What i would say is night after night, for 60 nights, someone 3 00up at 3 00, am a. M. , not the peaceful protest or, not somebody to peacefully protest at that courthouse, they are showing up for a reason at 3 00 a. M. To do damage to the courthouse. Ground ineen on the the situation, what are lawenforcement officers there on the ground protecting . What initiatives were they like to Law Enforcement officers are extremely frustrated with their work. They are frustrated. Y are by]ase stand the dogstalk about sing. Xxing. I understand at least 48 officers were doxxed. Their personal residence was made publicly available. I think we can agree this is the first the worst form, a form of social terrorism, putting people in danger, putting their family in danger. Can you describe in more detail what happens . Source open social reporting is information put out on twitter or Message Boards identified by violent individuals. Individuals have to get brought in. [indiscernible] have had to beef up security. It is just as dangerous as being in that courthouse. E they live, it doesnt [indiscernible] nightduals we have there after night not only have not been invited by the but also back to the you just referenced this in terms of what youre doing with the hotel, what measures are dhs taking to protect both officers , and otherdoxxed officers there trying to keep citizens safe . Agencies, whether or [indiscernible] [indiscernible] thise final question on situation, it is my understanding i think you referenced a mobile to go the Homeland Security package of 2002 charges the homeland sick the Homeland Security secretary with on the ground. There is therefore a legal obligation for you to undertake thats right. Directs the secretary and then we essentially protect federal property. What we saw in 2014, secretary secretary, sent Law Enforcement to fps sites. [indiscernible] in my remaining time, operation legend which is happening across United States. Dhs is involved in that. Kansas city, a young boy, a fouryearold was killed by gunfire while he slept in the Early Morning of june the 29th. Can you elaborate for us dhs role in this . We are supporting the department of justice, mainly through investigators. That is what they do everyday. They are looking at National Criminal game. There looking at all of violent street crime wes tree we see. And chicago, we have got over 100 agents there everyday focusing on this. Theye prioritizing cases are in the nature of being able to address. [indiscernible] i had conversations with department of justice about operation legend. My understanding is that this operation is meant to assist local land state leaders in prosecuting crimes. Inlocal and state leaders policing and prosecuting crimes. I contain it is a former state Law Enforcement official, we welcome assistance. Is it your operation this is designed to help state and local leaders . And hows your communication at least with ahs . It was certainly designed that way and it is doing well to work in kansas city, chicago and a number of other cities. And otheree is mayors elected officials, once they understand what it is, that we are there to work with them, [indiscernible] time is expired. Thank you to the dhs Law Enforcement officers. Thank you for your service. Thank you especially for Law Enforcement officers out there putting their lives on the line. I know they do not have to do that, they are choosing to go out and try to keep safe american citizens, american property, just like Law Enforcement do. Had the privilege lies attorney general in my state to work with Law Enforcement everyday, i want to say thank you to them for what they are doing and for choosing to serve our country in this way. I am sorry they are being dragged through the mud. Thank you. Thank you. Senator can you unmute . We can hear you. Thank you for joining us. [indiscernible] [indiscernible] [indiscernible] [indiscernible] [indiscernible] [indiscernible] [indiscernible] [indiscernible] i appreciate you holding up the constitution. That is what the men and women of d. H. Nest the men and women of dhs do everyday. That aret individuals going to peacefully protest. What we see in portland is the opposite between midnight and 5 00 a. M. I just want to be clear on that. We have a failure to communicate. I disagree. We have been very clear on what we need from state and local officials and Law Enforcement. For 60 days, they refused to engage. The governor reached out, now you see Oregon State Police patrolling the streets around that federal courthouse. The violence has stopped. Once youwould stop have local and state Law Enforcement engaging and doing their job. Took until they 60. That should have occurred day two or three. Werehen, the secretary shirt off whatever respectful he say is i appreciate their service not only to the department, the country but they are wrong on this issue. They do not understand this situation. They do not have facts on the ground. Called themout and and explained that. They understood that women of dhs Law Enforcement, in the response, have got to work better with state and local. I agree with them. We have to work better with state and local. Have adays, we did not partner. [indiscernible] i called the governor and the mayor. [indiscernible] it does take two to tango. I appreciate the chairman [indiscernible] we dont have this issue in any other city. This is portland. Resolution prohibited Portland Police from sharing information with federal Law Enforcement. There are y, [indiscernible] [indiscernible] ice has used Hotel Housing accommodations. That has been ongoing for days per that is nothing new. Is not because able to take children at that specific time. Another housing location, ice facility is not available. If anything, they are being deported the next day. This is a practice the department has used going back for decades. Say,nication come i will should be globally. Bothizona specifically, with the ice director and the cbp official, make sure there is coordination as individuals are either being moved out of the hotel accommodations, being deported or moved to orr. [indiscernible] contractswe have had for decades as to house individuals we are in the course of processing. [indiscernible] do that, we also do that with family units as well. Using ice not only housing facilities, detention facilities, we have several in texas and arizona but we continue to use that without accommodations as well. [indiscernible] we continue to work with local hotels and our contractors that manage and support staff. That continue to use moving forward, we understand some may if not all of that contract we continue to use that as a way to house the individuals we are picking up and we legally have no right to remain in the u. S. Individuals who legally have no right to remain in the u. S. [indiscernible] we currently reach out to the mayor. Other city officials. Explain the process. Explain what they will see in their duties. Certainly we do it from there in arizona. [indiscernible] as we do our message our mission everyday, transferring custody, we do that everyday. Mayors communicate with and local officials as much as we can, but these are admissions we do day in and day out every single day. [indiscernible] mr. Secretary hank or appearing here. Case when ithe reserve my time, senators ask questions. On multiple questions have been asked. I was just wondering i do want to explore a little bit theu the media mania of the rioters. I know senator pierce and the number of folks on the other side of the aisle have given a statement in terms of White Supremacists. I agree it is a growing problem. Do you have any kind of intelligence in terms of the rioters cash for saul, is it coordinated . Is it coordinated . Are you seeing coordination between different riots and different cities, or is this locally spawned . Potentially inspired by more of a National Movement . What are we finding out in terms of what is causing this . Int we see important portland are what resolve in the on the federal courthouse. Not just there, i am not talking about the coordination with other cities, but specifically how they approach the courthouse since they it is clear they there was some organization involved. Naturals not just this algorithm for them to arrive here at 2 00 a. M. With weapons. Have you been able to come over with investigation techniques, determine who is organizing this . Homeland security investigators are working specifically with the fbi and doj to have cases open specifically regarding portland. What we are going to see over the next 30 days, youre going to see more activity cup and come out of the justice department. The department there, their without reviewing the final findings of the investigation, which obviously you are not ready to do. I am finding organizing groups. Are you finding commonalities . Overall, we are. In individual cities. I have not seen intelligence they are coordinating across multiple cities at the same time. What we see, and i have set a time and again, these are individuals that perhaps dont have an ideology but are taking advantage of an environment, specifically important come over for 60 days you can show up and do violent things to a courthouse and leave. Violent opportunists. We also see violent anarchists trying to burn down a courthouse. Promulgating and inspiring others to do more violence in portland. Boogaloo. E attributed in portland as well. We see in number of violent extremist ideology occurring. What is dangerous about portland is they have fostered an environment where you can do you can show up and do criminal acts with no consequence. That is why the short of net after night. And 60th night, they know until jade they know until dhs started arresting people there was no consequence. The people you have arrested command turns of what is causing us, my guess is that you are about right. [indiscernible] finding the full spectrum . Is there a majority one side versus the other . The anarchists, do they have ideology but are they simply anarchists for the sick of anarchy . 100 99as been almost different arrests, we are seeing all of the above. We are also seeing these individuals are trained not to talk along force. As soon as they are picked up, they do not talk to Law Enforcement. The intel we give to them is little. We turn it over to the department of justice, the u. S. Attorney, and that process plays itself out. You know which groups train people not to talk to lawenforcement . All of the above. Anywhere from anarchists to antifa and others. Again, i find it interesting when certain investigations conclude and bring some sort of sense of what is happening here, whos driving this. Saw broad support from this committee to the men and women in your department. I think it that is fitting, proper. In my Opening Statement, lay out the significant challenge ins the men at the challenges the men and women of dhs Law Enforcement face. It is not an easy task. To itstart i try is not only the sacrifice made by men or women on the front lines, but it is the family. Every time their loved one steps work,e door, ghost to puts their life on the line. That is what is happening. Standpoint for my want to encourage you into conveying our appreciation to all Law Enforcement, particularly those in your department. Please, i wish the injured a speedy recovery. There is something that is particularly evil, one of the video, the laser lights. Broken bones will heal. Other injuries will hear that shell. If you lose your site come you a quality of life. You have lost one of your senses. For any human being to do that to another human being strikes me as particularly evil. I hope this stops. Wmata i talk so why passionately about our mission in portland and our Law Enforcement officers. I welcome the opportunity to have discussions like this where i can refute inaccurate dangerous information about dhs Law Enforcement. What is occurring in portland than what is being reported by Mainstream Media are two different things. Dhs is out there supporting Law Enforcement officers. Itps the chairman helps when the chairman show support. Lets say what happens to your father or your husband or wife is being confronted by somebody who puts a little hole in their shield, trying to blind you. Theres something horribly distractible about all this. [indiscernible] please, convey the strong support the men and women of your department of this committee and also for me personally. With that from the hearing will remain open. This hearing is [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] the Congressional Oversight Commission is a five person Panel Established by the cares act. They hold a hearing today on lending to main street business is in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Live coverage begins at 10 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan and you can also watch online at www. Cspan. Org or listen live on the free cspan radio app. Coming up this morning on washington journal, diane yentel