Congress is getting the cold shoulder from key Trump cabinet members, with some top officials flat-out refusing to show up when summoned.

Washington was gripped by drama this week after The Washington Post let slip just how rare White House appearances before oversight panels have become. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) didn’t hold back, blasting administration bigwigs for ignoring not just tradition, but legal duties: “They’re skipping the must-do parts, never mind extra accountability when things go sideways.”

Want numbers? The Senate Foreign Relations Committee managed only two full hearings featuring administration reps in 2025 – compare that to the Biden era, when 24 such sessions took place in a single year. The House Foreign Affairs Committee saw a similar plunge: 12 briefings by government brass in 2025, versus a whopping 47 in 2021. It’s a dramatic drop-off that’s fired up critics demanding answers.

One of the biggest absentees? Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who twice ignored calls to confront a Senate panel grilling her about controversial nationwide immigration blitzes. Senator Chuck Grassley (D-Iowa) vented his frustration, reminding colleagues that Noem personally promised to attend if invited, but so far has been a no-show. “Cooperation from Secretary Noem early next year would be a major step forward,” he declared, pointedly.

What’s behind Noem’s disappearing act? Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) claims her excuse didn’t pass the sniff test – and added he’d be ready to slap her with a bipartisan subpoena to force her hand if that’s what it takes.

Meanwhile, Health and Human Services chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has come under fire for snubbing requests to address lawmakers on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He previously told Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) he’d face lawmakers every quarter if summoned, but has skipped out so far. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), along with a band of ten fellow Democrats, fired off a firm letter warning Cassidy that bypassing a hearing for Kennedy would be a “dereliction of duty” – both ethically and for the nation’s health. The message: This standoff is far from over, and the pressure on these top officials to show up is only mounting.