Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has pledged to hold federal health agencies accountable for withholding key data on COVID-19 vaccine safety. As the incoming chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Johnson plans to issue subpoenas if the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not comply with oversight demands.
Johnson’s recent letter accused these agencies of suppressing information that could impact public health decisions. He specifically cited a 2021 draft alert from the CDC regarding myocarditis risks in vaccinated individuals, which was never released. The senator demanded unredacted versions of this draft and other related communications.
The senator has set a December 3 deadline for compliance, warning that failure to provide the requested records will result in subpoenas. Johnson also criticized the Biden administration for a lack of transparency, asserting that these actions have damaged public trust.
“For too long, federal agencies have ignored oversight requests,” Johnson stated. “As chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I will ensure that obstruction ends.”
This development is part of Johnson’s broader push for accountability on pandemic-related issues, including vaccine development and early treatment protocols. He has sent over 60 letters to federal health agencies since the pandemic began, seeking greater transparency.
Johnson’s leadership of the Senate subcommittee is expected to bring heightened scrutiny to federal health agencies in the coming months.
