House Committee Subpoenas Biden Administration Over Voting Executive Order

The House Committee on House Administration is issuing subpoenas to 15 executive agencies in the Biden administration, seeking information about the implementation of an executive order on promoting access to voting. The order has been criticized by Republicans, who argue that it is a partisan effort to mobilize voters.

The House Committee on House Administration, led by Republican Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, is subpoenaing 15 executive agencies in the Biden administration over concerns about the implementation of an executive order on promoting access to voting.

House Committee Subpoenas Biden Administration Over Voting Executive Order

The executive order, signed by President Biden in March 2021, directs federal agencies to work with state and local election officials to protect the right to vote, eliminate discrimination, and expand access to voter registration and accurate election information.

However, Republicans have raised concerns that the order is a partisan effort to mobilize voters in favor of Democrats. They argue that the order directs federal agencies to use their resources to promote voter registration and participation, which is a function that should be left to state and local governments.

House Committee Subpoenas Biden Administration Over Voting Executive Order

In a subpoena letter to the agencies, Steil wrote that the committee is "concerned about the implementation of E.O. 14019, particularly regarding its compatibility with provisions of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993."

Steil said that the NVRA does not authorize federal agencies to focus on voter registration and that the executive order may be violating this law. He also noted that some agencies have already taken actions that raise questions about the implementation of the order, such as the Department of Education's new federal work-study requirements and the Small Business Administration's entrance into a voter registration agreement with Michigan.

House Committee Subpoenas Biden Administration Over Voting Executive Order

Steil said that the committee is considering legislation that would repeal the executive order and require the agencies' strategic plans for implementing the order to be submitted to Congress.

The agencies that have been subpoenaed include the Department of Commerce, Homeland Security, Defense, Justice, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Office of Management and Budget, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Agriculture.

House Committee Subpoenas Biden Administration Over Voting Executive Order

A spokesperson for OMB told Fox News Digital that the agency has not been served with a subpoena.

Steil said that the executive order is a "scheme" to carry out "partisan activities" for which Congress did not appropriate funds.

"Elections are partisan, but our election administration should never be partisan. Allowing federal employees from the Biden administration to flood election administration sites threatens election integrity and reduces Americans’ confidence," Steil said.

"This executive order is another attempt by the Biden administration to tilt the scales ahead of 2024. I will continue working to provide transparency and accountability on this administration’s latest scheme as Congress did not appropriate taxpayer funds for partisan activities."

In November, top Republican senators, including Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, sent a letter to President Biden demanding answers about the executive order and the administration's plans to implement it. The senators said that they had not received a response to their letter.

In April, a lawsuit challenging the executive order was filed by the Foundation for Government Accountability, a conservative watchdog group. The lawsuit alleges that the order targets key demographics to benefit the president's political party and his own re-election.

The case is currently pending before the 3rd Federal Circuit.