This Is Not a Real Hearing': Congressman Kicks Off Roundtable by Announcing Democrats Are Boycotting

"This roundtable, which is really set up to have witnesses, where we have no input on motions, where we have no input and no formal rules, and no ability to call witnesses, and also importantly no ability to have motions to subpoena, I think is important to call out."

"What's happening today, in our opinion, is not real oversight. Now, Oversight Republicans have not held a public, full committee roundtable as far as the last three years that I've been on this committee."

"Instead of enforcing the subpoena, the majority is canceling hearings altogether. It's not just happening in the full committee, it's also happening in subcommittees."

"Since July 2025, the committee has made seven successful subpoena motions, including eighteen subpoenas, all with the support of bipartisan members of both the majority and the minority."

Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee, led by Robert Garcia, announced their boycott of a roundtable, criticizing it for lacking formal rules and accountability. Garcia emphasized that the roundtable was designed to appear like a hearing but did not allow for motions, witness calls, or subpoenas. He noted that this was the first roundtable in three years and highlighted the absence of real oversight, particularly after Attorney General Pam Bondi skipped a required deposition. The committee has previously made successful bipartisan subpoena motions.

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