WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The leaders of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security declined to testify publicly at a scheduled Senate hearing Thursday on global national security threats, a break from precedent following years of open testimony before the panel.
鈥淭heir choice to not provide public testimony about their departments鈥� efforts to address wide-ranging national security threats robs the American people of critical information and the opportunity for public accountability of what the federal government is doing to keep Americans safe," Sen. , chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee, said in a statement.
The Michigan Democrat said it was the first time in more than 15 years that an FBI director and Homeland Security secretary had refused to offer focused on threats to the homeland, calling it a 鈥渟hocking departure鈥� from tradition.
A separate hearing scheduled for Wednesday before the House Homeland Security committee also was postponed.
The hearings were to have taken place at a time of significant political transition as Trump is and has to succeed Homeland Security Secretary .
The Senate committee usually starts scheduling its annual hearing months in advance, and previous hearings have always included a public component. The committee was informed Monday that Mayorkas and Wray would not be appearing.
In a statement Thursday, the FBI said it had 鈥渞epeatedly demonstrated our commitment to responding to Congressional oversight and being transparent with the American people鈥� and remained "committed to sharing information about the continuously evolving threat environment facing our nation.
鈥淔BI leaders have testified extensively in public settings about the current threat environment and believe the Committee would benefit most from further substantive discussions and additional information that can only be provided in a classified setting,鈥� the statement said.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
Eric Tucker And Rebecca Santana, The Associated Press
