THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON

April 24, 2019
The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings
Chairman
Committee on Oversight and Reform
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Cummings:
Thank you for your letter of April 17, 2019, inviting Stephen Miller, Assistant to the
President and Senior Advisor to the President for Policy, to testify about the President's
immigration priorities. This Administration is focused on effectively addressing the emergency at
our southern border and is also eager to work with Congress to address the numerous immigration
and border security challenges confronting our nation.
In accordance with long-standing precedent, we respectfully decline the invitation to make
Mr. Miller available for testimony before the Committee. The precedent for members of the Wbite
House staff to decline invitations to testify before congressional committees has been consistently
adhered to by administrations of both political parties, and is based on clearly established
constitutional doctrines. See Immunity ofthe Assistant to the President and Director ofthe Office
ofPolitical Strategy and Outreachfrom Congressional Subpoena, 3 8 O.L.C. Op. 1, 1 (2014) ("The
Executive Branch's longstanding position, reaffitmed by numerous Administrations of both
political parties, is that the President's immediate advisers are absolutely immune from
congressional testimonial process."); see also Letter from Robert F. Bauer, Counsel to the
President, to Darrell E. Issa, Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (June
16, 2011) ("Wbite House staff generally do not testify before Congress."); Letter from Lloyd N.
Cutler, Counsel to the President, to Samuel S. Stratton, Chairman, Subcommittee on Investigations
of the Committee on Armed Services (Sept. 30, 1980) ("Congress has always respected the
privilege of the President to decline requests that the President himself or his immediate Wbite
House advisors appear to testify before Congressional committees.").
We are pleased that the Committee is interested in obtaining information regarding border
security and much needed improvements to our immigration system. In light of the Committee's
interest, we welcome the opportunity to discuss the Administration's immigration policy priorities
and note that many Executive Branch officials, including cabinet secretaries and other agency
leaders, have testified on multiple occasions regarding the Administration's efforts to secure the
border. Testimony by such Executive Branch officials with responsibilities defined by statute
would be a reasonable accommodation to the Committee's questions and legislative goals. If our

 Chairman Cunnnings
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office can be of fmther help to the Committee with respect to this imp01iant policy issue please let
us know.

A. Cipollone
Counsel to the Preside
cc:

The Honorable Jim Jordan, Ranking Member