Senator Johnson Suggests Trump Appointees May Enhance Agency Oversight

On December 18, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) stated that federal agencies might begin seeking more congressional oversight with the incoming appointees of President-elect Donald Trump in the coming year.

In a Thursday morning interview with The Epoch Times, Johnson addressed this issue, mentioning that these nominees could enhance the transparency and accountability of agencies to Congress, citing the FBI as a prime example.

The senator characterized Congress as a “shadow of itself” due to the erosion of its oversight powers. He expressed his goal to revitalise that authority during Trump’s second term, contingent on support from his Republican colleagues.

“We must recognize that our oversight authority is likely our most significant power and responsibility,” Johnson remarked. “Funding the government is essential, but once that’s done, we need to scrutinize how those funds are utilized.”

One element of Trump’s new cabinet nominees that he finds encouraging is their openness to additional congressional oversight of the agencies they might lead if confirmed.

“They are indeed asking for oversight,” Johnson noted. “During our discussions, we strategize on approaches … Trump requires individuals who can clearly communicate their objectives for the agencies, who are ready to advocate for them, and who won’t shy away from challenges.”

The senator mentioned he is open to dividing the congressional appropriation process, potentially into halves or even thirds, to allocate budget accounts annually, allowing for oversight of the appropriations made.

He identified the FBI as an agency that could benefit significantly from enhanced oversight. Johnson noted that Trump’s appointee to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, aims to combat crime while “restoring integrity to the FBI.”

“There have been decisions that historically were made independently of political influence in Washington, DC, but now those decisions have shifted to political leaders within the FBI,” Johnson explained. “That has compromised its integrity.”

Johnson asserted that the FBI should proactively furnish congressional committees with vital information to facilitate oversight, especially regarding any claimed criminal conduct, allowing those committees to pass relevant information to the attorney general.

“This is a straightforward approach that aligns with President Trump’s promise of forward-looking success, not a focus on past grievances,” Johnson commented.

He also referenced Trump’s earlier decision not to pursue prosecution of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding her deleted emails shortly after taking office in 2017.

“President Trump stated, ‘We’re not going to do that. That’s what occurs in third-world countries. We’re proceeding,’” Johnson recounted. “I moved on. We closed our investigation.”

Finally, Johnson emphasized that Trump’s new nominees are committed to making their agencies more transparent to Congress by supplying the necessary documents and data to support oversight efforts.