On October 15, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg issued an internal memo barring nearly all Defense Department personnel, including military commanders, from communicating with Congress or state lawmakers without prior approval from the Pentagon’s office …
Pete HegsethSteve FeinbergPentagoncongressional-oversightseparation-of-powerspentagonobstructionmilitary-accountability
On October 7, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a contentious oversight hearing marked by sharp Democratic criticism of the Justice Department’s targeting of President Trump’s political opponents. The hearing came one day before former …
Pam BondiSenate Judiciary CommitteeDepartment of JusticeDick DurbinRichard Blumenthal+1 moredojcongressional-oversightpolitical-prosecutioninstitutional-captureweaponization+1 more
The Supreme Court voted 6-3 along ideological lines to allow Trump to freeze $4 billion in congressionally-approved foreign aid targeting UN development assistance, international peacekeeping, and humanitarian programs. Trump used a ‘pocket rescission’—a Nixon-era tactic not deployed …
Supreme CourtDonald TrumpElena KaganMike JohnsonGAOconstitutional-crisissupreme-courtcongressional-oversightexecutive-overreachforeign-aid+1 more
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint revealing that the Office of Management and Budget under Russell Vought is hiding conditions for billions in federal funds through undisclosed ‘A’ footnotes in apportionment documents. Between March 21 and …
Russell VoughtOMBCREWinstitutional-capturetransparency-violationcongressional-oversightbudget-manipulationimpoundment
The House Oversight Committee released Jeffrey Epstein’s 238-page birthday book “The First Fifty Years,” compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003. The album contains two deeply disturbing contributions connected to Donald Trump that reveal the culture …
Donald TrumpJeffrey EpsteinGhislaine MaxwellJoel PashcowJames Comer+4 moreepstein-connectionsmar-a-lagosexual-misconductcongressional-oversightobstruction-of-oversight+1 more
House Oversight Chairman James Comer escalated dramatically on August 5, 2025, by issuing 11 subpoenas: one to the DOJ demanding complete files by August 19, depositions from Bill and Hillary Clinton, and testimony from six former attorneys general and two former FBI directors. The selection notably …
James ComerBill ClintonHillary ClintonDepartment of Justiceepstein-filescongressional-oversightsubpoenasclinton-connection
Twelve Democratic members of Congress filed suit in federal court after being systematically denied access to ICE detention facilities nationwide. The lawsuit challenges DHS’s new policy requiring seven-day advance notice for visits and blocking all access to ICE field offices, which violates …
Rep. Joe Neguse (CO)Rep. Jason Crow (CO)Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY)Rep. Dan Goldman (NY)Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS)+9 morecongressional-oversightice-detentionrule-of-lawconstitutional-crisistransparency-failure
ICE denied multiple members of Congress access to immigration detention facilities across the country, including Rep. Jason Crow at Aurora, Colorado and six Maryland Democrats at Baltimore’s Fallon Federal Building. Despite a 2019 law guaranteeing congressional access for oversight, ICE …
ICEDepartment of Homeland SecurityRep. Jason CrowSen. Chris Van HollenSen. Angela Alsobrooks+5 morecongressional-oversightice-detentiontransparency-failurerule-of-lawimmigration-enforcement
The House Oversight subcommittee voted 8-2 to subpoena the DOJ for Epstein files on July 23, 2025, with three Republicans—Nancy Mace (R-SC), Scott Perry (R-PA), and Brian Jack (R-GA)—breaking ranks to join Democrats in demanding transparency. This bipartisan rebellion followed the DOJ’s July 7 …
House Oversight CommitteeRep. Nancy Mace (R-SC)Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA)Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA)Department of Justice+1 moreepstein-filescongressional-oversightbipartisan-actionsubpoenas
Senator Richard Blumenthal’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations opened inquiry into Trump’s cryptocurrency ventures, describing them as “unprecedented conflicts of interest and national security risks” and “pay-to-play scheme to provide access to the …
Richard BlumenthalPermanent Subcommittee on InvestigationsDonald TrumpFight Fight Fight LLCWorld Liberty Financialcongressional-oversightcryptoforeign-influenceinvestigation
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a critical hearing investigating unprecedented threats to judicial independence in 2025, documenting rising levels of violence, intimidation, disinformation, and defiance of lawful court judgments. Testimony revealed a disturbing pattern of physical threats, …
SpaceX awarded $5.9 billion for 28 launches through 2029 as largest share of $13.5 billion National Security Space Launch Phase 3 contracts. Award occurred while congressional oversight investigation examined Musk’s $9.5 billion total DoD contracts and potential conflicts with his advisory …
SpaceXU.S. Space ForceElon MuskRep. Stephen LynchRep. Gerry Connolly+1 morespacexgovernment-contractsconflict-of-interestcongressional-oversightelon-musk+1 more
U.S. House Oversight Democrats, led by Representatives Robert Garcia and Stephen Lynch, launched a comprehensive investigation into Grok AI’s development practices. The investigation scrutinized potential risks to the public information ecosystem, including concerns about privacy, …
Robert GarciaStephen LynchElon MuskxAIHouse Oversight Committee+4 moreai-governancetechnology-regulationartificial-intelligencecybersecuritycongressional-oversight+3 more
Senate Judiciary Committee issues subpoena to Harlan Crow after he refuses to provide information about gifts to Clarence Thomas, marking escalation in corruption investigation
The House Ways and Means Committee released six years of former President Donald Trump’s tax returns (2015-2020), ending a four-year legal battle and providing unprecedented public access to a sitting president’s financial records. The release followed the committee’s December 20, …
House Ways and Means CommitteeRichard NealDonald TrumpIRSTreasury DepartmentTax FraudCongressional OversightTrump Tax ReturnsIRS Audit FailureForeign Bank Accounts
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified before the House Oversight and Reform Committee in a contentious marathon hearing where he repeatedly refused to restore mail sorting machines that had been removed or disconnected under his leadership, despite widespread mail delays and concerns about the …
Louis DeJoyCarolyn MaloneyRo KhannaHarley RoudaUSPSElection InterferenceUSPSPostal ServiceCongressional OversightDeJoy+1 more
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, denying that his operational changes were designed to sabotage mail service or interfere with the 2020 election. DeJoy insisted he had “never spoken to the President about the …
Louis DeJoyGary PetersRon JohnsonUSPSElection InterferenceUSPSPostal ServiceCongressional OversightDeJoy
Speaker Nancy Pelosi transmitted the articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate on January 16, 2020, ending a 28-day delay strategy designed to pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to establish fair trial procedures. In a solemn ceremony in the Speaker’s office, …
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry into President Trump on September 24, 2019, marking a historic turning point after revelations that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden while withholding military aid. In a solemn address from the Speaker’s Balcony …
Nancy PelosiDonald TrumpAdam SchiffHouse DemocratsFirst ImpeachmentCongressional OversightUkraineAbuse of PowerNancy Pelosi
An intelligence community whistleblower filed a formal complaint on August 12, 2019, detailing President Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky and the subsequent White House efforts to conceal the conversation. The complaint described how “multiple White House …
IC WhistleblowerMichael AtkinsonJoseph MaguireDonald TrumpFirst ImpeachmentWhistleblowerUkraineIntelligence CommunityCongressional Oversight
On May 24, 2019, the Trump administration invoked a rarely-used emergency provision of the Arms Export Control Act to bypass congressional review and ram through 22 separate arms sales worth $8.1 billion to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared an …
Donald TrumpMike PompeoRaytheonLockheed MartinBoeing+2 moreraytheonsaudi-arabiatrumparms-salesyemen-war+3 more
Former White House Counsel Donald McGahn, acting under White House instruction, defied a congressional subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee on May 7, 2019, refusing to provide documents related to the Mueller investigation. This act of subpoena defiance was part of a broader strategy to …
Donald McGahnWhite HouseHouse Judiciary CommitteeWilliam BurckJerry Nadler+2 moredon-mcgahnmueller-investigationsubpoena-defiancewhite-house-obstructioncongressional-oversight+1 more
The Trump administration claimed ‘absolute immunity’ to block all congressional oversight, with White House Counsel Pat Cipollone declaring Congress had no ’legitimate legislative purpose’ for investigations. Don McGahn defied House subpoenas despite federal judges ruling …
Donald TrumpPat CipolloneDon McGahnJohn BoltonMike Pompeo+1 moreobstructionabsolute-immunitycongressional-oversightconstitutional-crisisexecutive-power
Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf testifies before the Senate Banking Committee in a hearing titled “An Examination of Wells Fargo’s Unauthorized Accounts and the Regulatory Response.” Senator Elizabeth Warren delivers a devastating confrontation, accusing Stumpf of “gutless …
John StumpfElizabeth WarrenU.S. Senate Banking Committeecorporate-fraudwells-fargocongressional-oversightelizabeth-warren
Erik Prince testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for nearly four hours, defending Blackwater’s operations in Iraq despite overwhelming evidence of excessive force and lack of accountability. The hearing came weeks after the September 16, 2007 Nisour Square …
Erik PrinceBlackwaterHouse Oversight CommitteeHenry Waxmanprivate-militaryiraq-waraccountability-crisiscongressional-oversightcorporate-impunity
Department of Justice Inspector General Glenn Fine releases comprehensive report documenting widespread FBI abuse of National Security Letters (NSLs) and surveillance authorities. The investigation found FBI systematically circumvented legal requirements, collected intelligence on Americans without …
Glenn FineFBIDepartment of JusticeCongressNational Security Division+1 morefbi-surveillance-abuseinspector-general-reportconstitutional-violationnational-security-letterscongressional-oversight
On March 9, 2006, Dubai Ports World (DPW) announced it would abandon its controversial plan to control US port operations, marking a pivotal moment in the Bush presidency’s foreign investment strategy. The decision came after the House Appropriations Committee voted 62-2 to block the $6.8 …
Dubai Ports WorldHouse Appropriations CommitteeCharles SchumerDennis HastertBill Frist+4 morecorporate-defeatcongressional-oversightforeign-investmentnational-securityport-security+1 more
Congress passes the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for 2004 (H.R. 2658), containing language that permanently terminates funding for the Total Information Awareness (TIA) program and orders the immediate closure of DARPA’s Information Awareness Office. The Senate had voted …
U.S. CongressSenateHouse of RepresentativesGeorge W. BushDARPA+4 moresurveillanceprivacylegislationTIAmass-surveillance+4 more
Joint congressional hearings on the Iran-Contra affair begin, launching seven weeks of televised testimony that becomes the most-watched series of congressional hearings since the Senate Watergate Committee hearings in 1973. The House Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with …
Oliver NorthJohn PoindexterGeorge ShultzCaspar WeinbergerIran-Contracongressional-oversightReagan-administrationaccountabilitymedia
The Tower Commission delivers its report on the Iran-Contra affair to President Reagan, producing findings widely criticized as a whitewash that shields Reagan from accountability while blaming subordinates for the illegal scheme. The commission, composed of former Senator John Tower, former …
Ronald ReaganJohn TowerEdmund MuskieBrent ScowcroftWilliam CaseyIran-ContraReagan-administrationcongressional-oversightaccountabilitycover-up
Attorney General Edwin Meese announces that proceeds from secret arms sales to Iran were illegally diverted to fund Nicaraguan Contra rebels, publicly exposing the Iran-Contra scandal that had been revealed three weeks earlier by the Lebanese magazine Ash-Shiraa on November 3. The announcement comes …
Congress passes the most restrictive version of the Boland Amendment, explicitly prohibiting any U.S. government agency involved in intelligence activities from providing support for military or paramilitary operations in Nicaragua. The amendment, effective from October 3, 1984, to December 3, 1985, …
Edward BolandRonald ReaganIran-Contracongressional-oversightNicaraguaReagan-administrationconstitutional-law