Denver Mayor Mike Johnston will testify Wednesday morning to the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform as the Republican-led panel scrutinizes several cities’ immigration policies.
Johnston was set to appear alongside mayors from New York City, Chicago and Boston in the hearing, which is set to begin at 8 a.m. Denver time. This story will include a livestream of the hearing and news updates after the proceedings begin.
The majority-Republican committee has asked Johnston and the other mayors to testify about their “sanctuary city” policies as new President Donald Trump pursues mass deportations of people lacking proper legal status.
(Watch on YouTube)
The hearing in Washington, D.C., could have major implications for Denver as Trump and congressional Republicans threaten to pull federal funding from cities that don’t cooperate with federal agents on such efforts. For Denver, that could mean losing millions of dollars for programs and projects.
When the Trump administration issued a sudden freeze on all federal grant spending earlier this year, a spokesman for the city said the city’s 2025 budget included $150 million in federal dollars for items such as infrastructure and small business support.
Denver city officials also are hoping to avoid a legal battle over the city’s policies, as has been the fate for other cities.
Each mayor will deliver an opening statement before the committee members are given five minutes each to ask them questions. The hearing is expected to last several hours.
U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert and Gabe Evans, both Republicans from Colorado who have challenged Johnston in the past, plan to participate in the hearing and are likely to focus their time specifically on him.
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