House Republicans issued subpoenas to 15 top Biden officials on Thursday over concerns that the administration is attempting to influence the upcoming elections in favor of Democrats. House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI) issued subpoenas, requesting cabinet secretaries to provide documents related to a specific executive order from President Biden.
The order in question directs all heads of federal agencies to “promote voter registration and voter participation.” Agency leaders were ordered to create “strategic plans” for how their specific agency would increase voting and voter turnout.
“The Committee has concerns about the implementation of E.O. 14019, particularly regarding its compatibility with provisions of the National Voter Registration Act (NRA) of 1993,” Steil told the agencies in a subpoena letter. “Congress delegates to federal agencies specific functions and missions, which by law they are required to follow. Congress’s delegation of authority to HUD does not include using funds and resources to provide Americans with voter registration materials,” he said.
“Moreover, E.O. 14019 requires every federal agency to submit a strategic plan outlining how the agency can promote voter registration and voter participation. Over the last few months, some agencies have taken actions that were likely outlined in their strategic plans. Examples include the Department of Education’s new federal work-study requirements, and the Small Business Administration’s entrance into a voter registration agreement with Michigan,” Steil explained, as reported by Fox News.
“Both of those actions and the actions of other agencies raise substantial questions and concerns, some of which may be answered by access to the strategic plans drafted by the agencies.”
“Elections are partisan, but our election administration should never be partisan. Allowing federal employees from the Biden Administration to flood election administration sites threatens election integrity and reduces Americans’ confidence,” Steil said. “This Executive Order is another attempt by the Biden Administration to tilt the scales ahead of 2024.” He added: “I will continue working to provide transparency and accountability on this Administration’s latest scheme as Congress did not appropriate taxpayer funds for partisan activities.”
The agencies subpoenaed include the Commerce Department, Homeland Security, Defense Department, Justice Department, Education Department, Energy Department, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior Department, Labor Department, Office of Management and Budget, State Department, Transportation Department, Treasury Department, and Agriculture Department.
In his letter, Steil mentioned that lawmakers are looking into a legislative plan to challenge Biden’s order. The information requested in the subpoenas will greatly influence their decision, the Wisconsin Republican stated. The identified agencies are required to comply by June 26.
“As the Committee continues to investigate this issue, the strategic plans and other documents requested will inform the Committee on what additional legislation, if any, needs to be considered to clarify that the NRA does not enable executive branch agencies to focus on voter registration,” Steil wrote.
Republicans aren’t likely to get any enforcement assistance from Biden’s Justice Department, but if the agency chiefs ignore the subpoenas, a future GOP administration could potentially pursue legal action against them like Biden has done in the case of former Trump advisers Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro. Both ignored subpoenas from the partisan Jan. 6 Committee and both were prosecuted and sentenced to four-month prison terms. Navarro is serving his and will be released July 17; Bannon has been ordered to report to begin his sentence on July 1.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.