A House committee is taking action by issuing subpoenas to 15 executive agencies within the Biden administration regarding concerns over one of Biden's executive orders and its implementation. In March 2021, Biden signed an executive order titled Promoting Access to Voting, emphasizing collaboration between federal agencies and state, local, Tribal, and territorial election officials to safeguard voting rights, eliminate barriers to voting, and enhance voter registration and election information access.
The executive order has faced criticism from Senate Republicans who view it as a federal voter mobilization effort with potential partisan implications. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., chairman of the Committee on House Administration, is spearheading the effort to subpoena Biden's 15 cabinet secretaries to provide detailed plans for executing the order, particularly in light of the upcoming November election.
Steil expressed concerns about the order's alignment with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and emphasized that federal agencies must adhere to their designated functions and missions as delegated by Congress. The committee is seeking insight into the agencies' strategic plans related to voter registration and participation promotion, citing actions taken by agencies like the Department of Education and the Small Business Administration as examples.
Steil hinted at potential legislation to repeal the executive order and mandate the submission of agencies' strategic plans to Congress for review. The subpoenaed agencies include the Department of Commerce, Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Justice Department, and others.
Steil criticized the executive order as a partisan scheme that could compromise election integrity and public confidence. He accused the Biden administration of attempting to influence the 2024 election through unauthorized partisan activities. Republican senators have also raised concerns about the order, with Sen. Bill Hagerty and others seeking transparency on federal agencies' plans to implement the directive.
In April, a lawsuit challenging the executive order alleged that it unfairly targeted specific demographics to benefit the president's political party. The Foundation for Government Accountability, which filed an amicus brief in a related case before the Supreme Court, criticized the administration for using federal resources for what they perceive as a politically motivated voter mobilization effort.
