During a recent committee markup session, Representative Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) voiced sharp frustration at what she described as Congress’s failure to uphold its oversight responsibilities, particularly regarding the Trump administration’s handling of public health agencies. While the committee worked through a slate of bipartisan bills, DeGette redirected attention to what she sees as a deeper accountability gap.
Calls for Hearings Ignored
DeGette reminded colleagues that Democrats on the health subcommittee had requested a hearing with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former CDC Director Susan Monores to address her firing and the broader politicization of science. Their request, she noted, has gone unanswered. When pressed directly, the chairman declined to commit to a date for such a hearing.
She also raised concerns about the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which she said had been stacked with “antivaccine ideologues.” DeGette asked whether the committee would hold an oversight session with Secretary Kennedy regarding the panel’s decisions, but again received no firm commitment.
Oversight Brushed Off as “Partisan”
Referencing an April hearing in which the chairman himself had stressed the importance of proper oversight, DeGette highlighted the inconsistency in dismissing Democrats’ follow-up request as a “partisan ploy.” She pushed back strongly, insisting that ensuring the CDC, FDA, and NIH operate effectively “is not a partisan ploy” but a matter of public health and public trust.
Impact on Research and Cancer Programs
DeGette pointed to recent reporting in The New York Times that claimed the Trump administration was “shutting down the war on cancer.” According to the article, firings at the NIH and burdens placed on researchers, along with political appointees interfering with science, have undermined progress. Former NIH Director Harold Varmas was quoted asking why the nation would “destroy one of our greatest assets.”
A Demand for Action
For DeGette, the issue is not about party politics but about whether Congress fulfills its constitutional role. She concluded by urging the committee to take its obligations seriously and conduct meaningful oversight to protect Americans’ health.
Her message was clear: bipartisan bills are valuable, but without proper oversight of public health agencies, lawmakers are failing the people they represent.
Source: Congresswoman Diana DeGette
