Gagged Federal Agencies Withholding Information from Democratic Members of Congress

Statement by Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn

Media outlets are reporting that a number of federal agencies are withholding information from Democrats in Congress and in some cases informing them that federal agencies will only provide information requested by committee chairs.

“Federal agencies are funded by taxpayers to serve every American and every American’s representative in Congress. Politicizing federal agencies to serve only one political party is reprehensible and unacceptable in a free nation. This outrageous conduct is not the way the government officials should be conducting the business of the people – the people who sign their paychecks. The White House needs to make very clear to the agencies that they are to cooperate with Members of both parties regardless of which party is in power. This nation remains a democracy whether some members of the current Administration like it or not.”