Attorney General Merrick Garland will testify before a Senate committee on President Joe Biden's budget for the Department of Justice amid a grilling from GOP lawmakers on the origins of COVID-19 and House committee investigations into the "weaponization" of the department.
Garland will appear before the Senate Appropriations Committee to discuss Biden's budget, which he released to counter a budget released by the House Freedom Caucus. The budget seeks to "bolster Federal law enforcement," including $51 million for the FBI to "support the continued implementation of background checks."
WHITE HOUSE SAYS REPUBLICANS WANT TO DEFUND LAW ENFORCEMENT
The White House has made efforts to blast MAGA Republicans for wanting to "defund or abolish" law enforcement. Biden has touted his plan for putting 100,000 police officers on the streets to "strengthen accountable community policing."
MAGA Republicans in Congress talk about crime, but their budget cuts funding for the FBI, ATF, and local law enforcement.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 28, 2023
Mine puts 100,000 police officers on our streets to strengthen accountable community policing.
Garland has come under fire from House Republicans over the FBI allegedly opening investigations into threats against school board members by parents protesting education policies.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The DOJ recently received a letter from six Republican senators demanding answers on what actions have been taken against China in the aftermath of agency reports concluding the coronavirus pandemic originated from a lab leak in Wuhan.
Garland's testimony will begin at 2:30 p.m.