Oversight of Trump Administration

Security Clearances

Chairman Cummings is committed to conducting vigorous oversight of our nation’s security clearance processes. Deficiencies in this process may represent urgent and grave risks to our national security, not only with respect to systemic challenges, but also with respect to specific individuals who should not have access to our nation’s most highly guarded secrets.

Russia

Since 2016, Chairman Cummings has been calling for an investigation of ties between Trump affiliates and the Russians and an independent outside commission to investigate Russian interference in our election—legislation that is supported by all House Democrats and one Republican. Chairman Cummings will continue examining President Trump’s financial dealings with entities in Russia, as well as multiple reports of communications between Russian officials and the President’s advisors.

Emoluments Clause

President Trump is defying warnings from Republican and Democratic ethics experts and refusing to do what every previous president has done for decades — divest himself of his ownership interests, liquidate his business assets, and place them in a truly blind trust operated by an independent entity. As a result, Chairman Cummings is conducting oversight to protect against violations of the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the President from obtaining any benefit of any kind from foreign governments or affiliated entities “without the consent of Congress.” Potential Emoluments Clause violations could include foreign government officials who buy up entire floors of hotel rooms, pay higher rents at Trump Tower, lower interest rates on loans, speed up permits for development projects, or take all kinds of other inappropriate actions to ingratiate themselves with the new Administration.

Trump Hotel in Washington, DC

President Trump is both landlord and tenant in his company’s lease with the General Services Administration for his luxury hotel in Washington D.C. Chairman Cummings continues to request information about the Administration’s plan for addressing his breach of lease given President Trump’s refusal to divest himself of his ownership interests in his company.

Ethics and Transparency

Chairman Cummings is committed to investigating the President’s unprecedented vast global entanglements, financial conflicts of interest, and penchant for secrecy, including his refusal to release his tax returns. He is also conducting oversight of the Administration’s troubling pattern of misguided and politically-motivated attacks on government watchdogs, ethics experts, law enforcement officials, and career government employees.

Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn

President Trump’s former national security advisor, Lt. General Michael Flynn, was secretly communicating with Russian officials at the same time Russia was attacking our democracy. ChairmanCummings continues to request information about Flynn’s ties to Russia, including his security clearance documents to see if he reported his ties to foreign governments.

Immigration and Border Issues

Chairman Cummings is committed to overseeing President Trump’s immigration policies and executive actions on a travel ban, which he believes represent a dangerous approach that will break up families, incite fear, and threaten the public safety of our communities.

National Security Issues

Chairman Cummings is committed to conducting oversight of any potential violations of protocol and security precautions related to President Trump’s handling of national security information, including reports of an apparent violation of security protocols at the President’s club, Mar-a-lago.

Voting Rights

There is no evidence of the widespread voter fraud that President Trump and the White House claim exists, but widespread voter suppression is a reality. Chairman Cummings has been investigating efforts to suppress the vote for years, including restrictive news laws that prevent minorities from casting their ballots, and he has asked the Administration to review this in its investigation of voter integrity.