Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senator Katie Britt recently participated in a Senate Committee on the Judiciary hearing regarding the nominations of Todd Blanche for Deputy Attorney General and Gail Slater for Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division.

During the hearing, Senator Britt addressed several issues related to the Department of Justice (DOJ), including antitrust enforcement's significance for small businesses, immigration court backlogs, sanctuary city policies, and DOJ's responsiveness to congressional oversight under the Biden Administration.

Senator Britt began her questioning with Gail Slater, emphasizing her concern for small businesses. "As a daughter of two small business owners," she stated, "I constantly look at what’s happening in our country and think...how does this affect the little guy?" She stressed the importance of allowing small businesses to thrive and compete. Slater agreed that antitrust plays a crucial role in maintaining competitive markets.

The discussion then shifted to Todd Blanche, where Senator Britt highlighted concerns about immigration court backlogs. She noted an increase from 1.4 million cases in Fiscal Year 2021 to 3.5 million in Fiscal Year 2024. She criticized what she perceived as a lack of case completions during the Biden Administration compared to reforms implemented during Trump's presidency.

Senator Britt also raised concerns about sanctuary city policies and their impact on public safety. She expressed support for Attorney General Pam Bondi's memo intending to end funding for sanctuary cities and challenge their policies legally.

Finally, Senator Britt criticized DOJ's responsiveness to congressional oversight during recent years, citing failures by former-Attorney General Merrick Garland. She asked Blanche if he would ensure better responsiveness moving forward, which he affirmed.

Following these discussions, Senator Britt voted in favor of both nominations: Blanche as Deputy Attorney General and Slater as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division.