Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is ramping up his oversight efforts as he prepares to lead the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Johnson has warned federal health agencies that subpoenas will be issued if they fail to provide unredacted records related to COVID-19 vaccine safety.
In a recent letter, Johnson demanded that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) preserve and release all documents regarding vaccine risks, particularly myocarditis. He cited the suppression of a 2021 CDC draft alert as an example of the agencies’ lack of transparency.
The alert was reportedly meant to inform healthcare providers about myocarditis risks but was withheld after internal discussions. Johnson is seeking the full version of the draft and related communications. He has set a December 3 deadline for compliance.
“For too long, federal agencies have stonewalled legitimate oversight requests,” Johnson said, vowing to hold the agencies accountable if they continue to withhold information.
Johnson also criticized the Biden administration for failing to prioritize transparency, accusing them of eroding public trust by concealing critical safety data. He highlighted heavily redacted Pfizer and CDC documents as examples of the administration’s obstructive behavior.
As chair of the investigative subcommittee, Johnson plans to make federal health agencies more accountable. His demands signal a shift toward greater scrutiny of pandemic-related decisions in the new Congress.
