E&C Democrats Blast Republicans for Refusing to Do Their Jobs & Conduct Any Oversight of the Trump Administration

Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats called out Republicans for refusing to do their constitutionally mandated job and conduct robust oversight. Today, Republicans voted on an oversight plan that is nearly identical to the plan they put forward two years ago despite the vastly different challenges the nation now faces. Committee Democrats demanded votes on a series of amendments that would expand the scope of the Committee’s oversight plan for the 119th Congress. 

“Committee Republicans had a choice to make today about whether they want to finally do their jobs and they resoundingly said no. It’s clear they are content sticking their heads in the sand while President Trump and Elon Musk loot the government and the American people,” full Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) said. “Oversight requires asking tough questions and demanding answers from the Administration and federal agencies. While Republicans may choose to stand by and watch as Trump and Musk cause chaos throughout the federal government, Democrats will fight to hold this Administration accountable.” 

Democrats offered a series of amendments today that would expand the scope of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s oversight plan for the 119th Congress. However, Republicans opposed every Democratic amendment that would address gaps in their plan, including: 

• Reviewing the Trump Administration’s illegal federal funding freeze and defiance of court orders to release the Congressionally appropriated funding;
• Examining the effects of Elon Musk’s illegal firing of federal health care workers at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS);
• Ensuring the independence of Inspectors General so they can continue to fulfill their legal responsibility to conduct nonpartisan and objective oversight; 
• Conducting oversight over the Trump Administration’s efforts to undermine Medicaid in order to take health care away from millions of Americans;
• Assessing the national security risks and implications of Elon Musk’s illegal layoffs at the National Nuclear Security Administration;
• Reviewing the impact of harmful cuts and layoffs at the National Institutes of Health, which help lead the search for new lifesaving cures and treatments;
• Requiring the Committee to study the effects of cutting federal Medicaid funding on coverage of and access to long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities;
• Reviewing the effect Trump’s dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is having on American consumers, particularly on seniors, service members, and veterans;
• Ensuring scientific integrity is protected at federal agencies; 
• Oversight of Elon Musk’s government contracts and licenses and his position as a quasi federal employee;
• Ensuring HHS Secretary Kennedy does not politicize vaccines and ensure that they remain available to the American people;
• Protecting Americans’ sensitive personal health care information against unlawful access by Elon Musk and his DOGE minions;
• Examining the harmful effects of undermining Medicaid expansion on hardworking American families;
• Examining the impact of the illegal federal funding freeze and EPA employee terminations on rural and low-income communities;
• Examining the effect of abortion restrictions on women, maternal health, and doctors and health care providers;
• Expanding the scope of the broadband section to include broadband affordability and to ensure full compliance of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program;
• Investigating the funding freeze of clean energy projects at the Department of Energy;
• Examining the impacts of gun violence on communities, including the health care workforce;
• Conducting oversight of funding cuts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the impact of the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act on global competitiveness;
• Holding big tech accountable by conducting oversight of big tech companies and social media;
• Investigating any acts of censorship or violations of the First Amendment by the Federal Communications Commission;
• Providing oversight of Medicare’s prescription drug price negotiations to ensure the American people are getting the best deals possible;
• Ensuring the Affordable Care Act continues to be able to offer quality, affordable health care for Americans;
• Requiring HHS Secretary Kennedy to appear before the Committee during outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses; and
• Conducting oversight of how Elon Musk and DOGE’s illegal federal workforce layoffs are having on Alzheimer’s disease research.      

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