Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will not appear before a House subcommittee investigating the use of federal homelessness funds, citing a scheduling conflict. The Oversight Subcommittee on Domestic Policy, intergovernmental Relations and Economic Growth, also known as DOGE, had requested Bass to testify on September 15 regarding concerns of "waste, fraud and abuse" involving over $1 billion in federal funds allocated to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
In a letter to the subcommittee, Mayor Bass's legal counsel, David Michaelson, stated, "unfortunately the mayor is not available on that date." The letter indicated that Mayor Bass's office has begun collecting and reviewing requested documents related to LAHSA's internal controls, the use of federal homelessness funds, and communications between various Los Angeles government entities and LAHSA. These documents are due by September 14.
A spokeswoman for the DOGE committee criticized Mayor Bass's decision, stating, "It’s a shame Mayor Bass is afraid to come testify about her policies that have increased homelessness in Los Angeles and enabled a culture of corruption." The committee plans to move forward with the hearing as scheduled, announcing that witnesses will be named soon. The subcommittee aims to expose alleged corrupt contracting and grant-making by LAHSA, as well as self-enrichment among nonprofits that received taxpayer funds.
The committee has pointed to several specific instances raising questions about LAHSA's oversight. One example cited is a $2.1 million contract authorized by former LAHSA CEO Va Lecia Adams Kellum with Upward Bound House, an organization that employed her husband. While Kellum had stated she recused herself from matters involving her husband's employer, public records indicated she personally approved the contract. LAHSA described the contract's appearance before her as an oversight.
Another instance highlighted by the panel involves 1736 Family Crisis Center, which has received more than $36 million in federal grants since 2008, with at least $25 million channeled through LAHSA since 2021.
The DOGE subcommittee, operating under the larger House Oversight Committee chaired by Rep. James Comer, has focused on the "joint responsibility" of Mayor Bass and the city in overseeing LAHSA, which has received over $1 billion in federal funds since 2021 while homelessness in Los Angeles has increased.
Mayor Bass's office has countered these claims, asserting that LAHSA is an independent agency with its own leadership responsible for day-to-day operations, budget, and administration, placing these matters outside the mayor's direct control. The mayor's legal team also noted that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) had previously investigated the contract issue involving Kellum's husband and closed the case after LAHSA revised its conflict-of-interest rules.
Furthermore, Bass's office highlighted a federal judge's decision that temporarily blocked HUD's earlier suspension of federal funding to LAHSA, characterizing the HUD action as "arbitrary and capricious." Despite these points, the committee insists that Bass's policies have exacerbated homelessness in Los Angeles. The subcommittee's request for testimony, while not a subpoena, carries the potential for compulsory measures if not complied with, which could lead to contempt of Congress proceedings.
In June, HUD suspended further federal funding to LAHSA pending assurances of adequate safeguards for taxpayer dollars. However, a federal judge later temporarily blocked these cuts. Mayor Bass's lawyers maintained that the mayor has a limited role on LAHSA's board and does not control the agency's operations or finances. The mayor's office also pointed to an 11% decrease in street homelessness and efforts to shift focus towards rehabilitation programs.