Staff Reports
The Biden administration entered office promising to revolutionize government transparency, yet it seems more devoted to the art of dodging accountability than illuminating the inner workings of its operations. Despite a sunny rhetoric about openness, the reality reveals a administration that has become a master of stonewalling, shrugging off subpoenas like a kid ignoring a chore list. Since Republicans regained control of the House in 2022, evidence has piled up suggesting the administration is more interested in keeping a lid on its activities than engaging in the oversight it once championed.
Cabinet members under the Biden banner have exhibited a remarkable talent for evasion, particularly when it comes to congressional subpoenas. The House GOP has been left with no choice but to resort to impeachment and contempt resolutions against administration officials who simply refuse to cooperate. The list now includes the Secretary of State, who decided that important testimony about the debacle in Afghanistan could wait while he mingled at the United Nations instead. Such priorities seem particularly misplaced, especially while the oversight committee explores crucial national security issues.
Biden-Harris Admin Promised Transparency But Delivered Stonewalling. Ignored subpoenas, stonewalled document requests, and uncooperative cabinet secretaries indicate the administration is shielding information rather than delivering promised transparency. https://t.co/NE9sgmSykt
— Climate Dispatch (@ccdeditor) September 26, 2024
Interestingly, the administration’s declarations of unprecedented transparency stand in stark contrast to its actions. Notably, former Press Secretary Jen Psaki and current spokespeople have insisted that this administration is the most open in history, despite all evidence to the contrary. As if a nod to irony, while they tout transparency, team Biden seems to be mastering the art of selective amnesia, allowing cabinet officials to dodge inquiries with alarming ease.
One particular show of defiance came from Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who managed to flunk a congressional subpoena twice in quick succession, proclaiming the importance of the UN while leaving lawmakers hanging. Blinken isn’t the only one; DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas found himself facing impeachment for refusing to uphold immigration laws and for stonewalling congressional inquiries into his department’s activities. The excuse of “never seeing the invitation” didn’t carry much weight when thousands of illegal crossings had occurred under his watch.
In another twist of farce, Attorney General Merrick Garland has been busy fending off Republican subpoenas relating to the president’s mishandling of classified documents. His claims of executive privilege may protect him from some consequences, but they don’t shield the administration from Republican scrutiny. Garland’s antics would be comedic if they weren’t so troubling; meanwhile, the Biden camp’s double standard regarding executive privilege leaves many wondering just how transparent this administration truly is. No need to worry about equal justice; the scales are tipped, and it’s becoming more apparent by the day.
As House Republicans continue their investigation into various Biden administration initiatives suspected of running afoul of election laws, the stonewalling tactic remains intact. The slogan “Bidenbucks” has been coined to describe the administration’s approach to voter registration programs funded through executive orders. Republican members of Congress have expressed deep concerns, especially with the refusal from various agency heads to comply with subpoenas demanding clarity. While officials tied to Trump faced prison sentences for similarly defiant behavior, it seems that Biden’s team is crafting a clever “get out of jail free” card through the art of executive privilege. In a narrative ripe for a political thriller, the Biden administration’s opaque maneuvers have only added fuel to the ongoing debate over accountability and governance in the nation’s capital.
