Congressional Oversight
484 Articles
GOP “Storming” of Secure Facility for Impeachment Proceedings: An Explainer
How does a "SCIF" work, and can members of Congress be penalized for their en masse protest of testimony in the House impeachment investigation?
Career U.S. Officials Testifying to Congress: A Guide from Co-Equal
For over 100 years, federal statutes have protected the right of federal employees to communicate with Congress. Career employees across agencies and positions have routinely provided…
Whistleblowing in Washington: Lessons Learned and Unlearned
A compelling first-hand account illustrates the institutional headwinds facing whistleblowers. To create the space they need to help increase accountability in government will…
The Need for a Bipartisan Stand Against the White House Counsel Letter
Former general counsel to Sen. Marco Rubio and senior Republican counsel on Senate Judiciary Committee writes about impeachment inquiry.
White House Letter Distorts Both Law and History on Impeachment
Leading historian on impeachment heavily criticizes White House Counsel's representation of cases and historical practice.
Two Major Distortions in the White House’s Scorched Earth Letter to Congress
White House Counsel Cipollone's letter to Congress is a profoundly troubling document with a political purpose: stonewalling Congress while trying to muddy the waters with pretextual…
A Formal Vote to Authorize Impeachment Won’t Fix White House Obstruction — And Could Create More Roadblocks
A full vote by the House to support the ongoing impeachment inquiry could end up creating more roadblocks for Congress.
Getting the Jay Treaty Right on “Executive Privilege”
A central historical claim in ongoing debates about the president's ability to keep diplomatic correspondence from the House of Representatives is not just flawed, but gets the…
For Scientific Integrity in Government, Fix Political Appointments Process
The Brennan Center's National Task Force on Rule of Law and Democracy recommends ways to rein in abuses by converting long-held norms into law.
Deciphering the Pompeo-House Clash Over Witnesses
Top congressional oversight expert breaks it down — what are the competing claims, and which ones are stronger or weaker?
There Is No Constitutional Impediment to an Impeachment Inquiry that Concerns National Security
The Constitution assigns the House of Representatives the impeachment power precisely to address situations where an urgent national security risk means accountability can’t…
Q&A on Whistleblower Complaint Being Withheld from Congressional Intelligence Committees
On September 13, House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff publicly announced that he had issued a subpoena to Acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Joseph Maguire…