WASHINGTON – On Friday, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released a statement on President Trump’s latest executive order attacking the Federal workforce and attempting to end collective bargaining rights at dozens of agencies.
“President Trump’s latest union busting executive order straight from Project 2025 continues his nonstop assault on the Federal workforce,” said Thompson. “This order claims to be putting national security first, but we all know Trump is doing nothing of the sort.
“He is using national security as an excuse to further demoralize and inflict whatever pain he can on the Federal workforce as his other efforts are floundering in the courts,” Thompson continued. “In fact, he gives away that this is purely a political exercise when he exempts a union that supported his campaign.
“Union busting isn't good anywhere – and it sure isn't good for national security or for the hardworking people at DHS.” Thompson concluded. “They deserve better.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was formed as a result of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, enacted in response to the September 11 attacks. With more than 240,000 employees, DHS is the third-largest Cabinet department, after the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Homeland security policy is coordinated at the White House by the Homeland Security Council. Other agencies with significant homeland security responsibilities include the departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, and Energy.
Thompson is married to London Johnson of Mound Bayou, and has a daughter, BendaLonne, a granddaughter, Jeanna, and a grandson, Thomas. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity (Gamma Rho – Tougaloo College) and a lifetime member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Bolton.
In January 2025, President Joe Biden named Thompson as a recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal, along with nineteen others.
Congressman Thompson, 77, has been serving as the U.S. Representative for Mississippi's Second Congressional District since 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, he has was the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security from 2019 to 2025, previously holding the position from 2007 to 2011.
