House Democrats seek list of canceled DHS contracts from prior administration

Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee have sent a letter demanding a complete list of contracts that the department has canceled, terminated, rescinded, suspended, paused, or materially modified since the transition. The letter states that the department pledged during a June 3 hearing to provide details on its review of contracts signed under the prior secretary.

It asks for information on actions taken due to concerns about propriety, value, or compliance.

Background on prior contracts The letter references contracts signed during the previous administration, including high-cost jet acquisitions, self-promotional advertising, vehicle wraps, and warehouse purchases. It notes that some warehouses bought for a collective $700 million are now slated for sale.

A department spokesperson said the agency is reviewing policies and proposals during the transition and that recipients of federal funding should expect accountability for taxpayer dollars.

Oversight concerns raised The letter argues that department leadership has an independent obligation to address potential procurement issues and should not rely solely on the Office of Inspector General to determine contract validity. It also references earlier criticism of spending decisions, including a reported $200 million advertising campaign and warehouse purchases described by one senator as carrying a 1,000 percent markup.

The New York Times has reported that the department spent $1 billion on warehouses overall.