NIH Subpoenaed by House over Harassment Investigation

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) subpoenaed the National Institutes of Health on Feb. 5 for documents related to how the agency handles sexual harassment allegations. Rodgers said NIH has refused to turn over detailed information about allegations involving the agency’s employees.

NIH has reported summary statistics on case outcomes for 2018 through late 2023, during which it fielded 265 allegations, 135 of which resulted in corrective action, and 18 which were still being investigated. However, Rodgers argues the agency’s invocation of privacy considerations is an inadequate reason for not providing the committee details on the cases.

In a cover letter accompanying the subpoena, Rodgers said the agency’s conduct “demonstrates a lack of good faith and an unwillingness to engage with the committee voluntarily.”