Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday blasted Attorney General Merrick Garland over the nation’s rising crime rate, telling him that he shouldn’t be pleased with how the Justice Department has addressed the threat.

Mr. Garland began his opening remarks by telling lawmakers that he was “pleased” with the progress the Justice Department has made in several areas since he last testified before Congress in June 2021.

Republicans immediately seized on this comment, telling Mr. Garland they don’t know how he can be content with the Justice Department’s actions on violent crime.

“I can’t wrap my brain around why you would be ‘pleased’ with what’s gone on in the last year-to-18 months. In the last year, we’ve seen crime spikes like we’ve never seen before,” said Rep. Mike Garcia, California Republican.

Mr. Garcia then proceeded to tick off national crime statics including a 5% increase in homicides last year compared to 2020, a 54% increase in shoplifting across the country, and recent FBI statistics showing a 59% increase in the number of police officers killed in the line duty in 2021, compared to the previous year.