Mayor Karen Bass Skips House Hearing on LA Homeless Spending Probe
The Capitol Hill Summons and Subcommittee Proceedings
The U.S. Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency summoned Mayor Karen Bass to Capitol Hill to answer questions regarding alleged waste, fraud, and abuse of federal dollars tied to LAHSA. Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tennessee, led the hearing titled “Fixing Fraud and Failure in Federally Funded Homelessness Services.” Testifying before the panel were Paul Webster, a Cicero Institute senior fellow and former executive director of the LA Alliance for Human Rights, alongside Jonathan Choe, a Discovery Institute senior fellow and former KOMO-TV reporter.
Legal Defense and Alternative Engagements in Los Angeles
In response to the congressional summons, Bass’ attorney, David Michaelson, notified the subcommittee in a letter that the mayor was unavailable for the hearing, without providing elaboration on the schedule conflict. Michaelson added that the mayor’s legal and administrative team would work toward fulfilling the panel’s documentation requests. Rather than traveling to Washington, D.C., Bass attended a local groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 15, 2026, for a project rebuilding the fire-damaged Palisades Recreation Center. At that event, she appeared alongside billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who established Steadfast LA, and Lakers coach JJ Redick, co-founder of LA Strong Sports.
Bass remarked to MS NOW on the potential cost of compliance, noting that substantial financial resources must be directed toward retaining legal counsel to handle sweeping congressional inquiries.
Diverging Perspectives on Federal Oversight and Local Policy
According to MyNewsLA, Rep. Burchett criticized the mayor’s absence, stating that homelessness has risen on her watch and pointing to a culture of corruption among nonprofits receiving public funding. In contrast, Bass issued a sharp rebuttal characterizing the inquiry as a partisan attack by congressional allies of the Trump administration. Bass stated that after federal courts blocked previous attempts to strip Los Angeles of housing grants, lawmakers were staging a political show.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) investigated LAHSA’s use of public funds, stemming from allegations of widespread mismanagement. According to The Daily Signal, HUD reported that over a five-year period where LAHSA received more than $1 billion in public funding—including $220 million in 2024—homelessness in Los Angeles increased by approximately 100%, while funding for permanent housing programs rose 212%. HUD attempted to suspend LAHSA from receiving federal funding in June, though a federal judge subsequently blocked that suspension while legal challenges proceeded. Bass acknowledged prior internal concerns regarding LAHSA operations, noting that she stepped down from her three-year term on the LAHSA Commission earlier in the month.
Future Legislative Steps and Investigation Outlook
As the investigation continues, the possibility of formal compulsory measures remains open. When asked whether the subcommittee would issue a subpoena to compel Bass’ testimony at a later date, a spokesperson for Chairman Burchett told The Daily Signal that “all options are on the table.” Meanwhile, compliance deadlines regarding document production loom, and local municipal leaders continue to balance regional housing initiatives against mounting federal oversight pressures.
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