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Democratic lawmakers request GAO investigation into DHS use of administrative summonses

Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Pramila Jayapal asked the congressional watchdog to review whether Homeland Security improperly collected records on journalists, non-profits, and unions.

Updated Sep 1, 2026 · 19:31 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Pramila Jayapal requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit the Department of Homeland Security's use of customs administrative summonses.
  • The lawmakers raised concerns that authorities bypassed judicial oversight to collect data on reporters, labor unions, non-profits, and anonymous online critics.
  • The GAO confirmed it received the request and is currently evaluating it.

Key facts

  • Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Pramila Jayapal formally requested a GAO audit into the Department of Homeland Security's use of administrative summonses outside of customs matters.[The Guardian]
  • Homeland Security Investigations used customs summonses to obtain six months of phone records for journalist Georgia Fort and requested YouTube account data for Fort and Don Lemon after a judge twice denied search warrant applications.[The Guardian]
  • The Department of Homeland Security has also issued administrative summonses and subpoenas targeting labor union finances, non-profit Venmo transactions, and the identities of anonymous critics on platforms including Meta, X, and Reddit.[The Guardian]
  • The lawmakers asked the judicial conference to revise standard subpoena templates to explicitly state that recipients may inform targets unless barred by a court order.[The Guardian]
  • A spokesperson for the GAO confirmed the office received the inquiry and is reviewing it.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains unconfirmed whether the GAO will formally launch the full audit requested by the lawmakers.[The Guardian]
  • The extent to which DHS revised its administrative summons policies following a critical 2017 inspector general report is currently unspecified.[The Guardian]

Sources