Stop Blocking the Work of the Congressional Ethics Office

The Office of Congressional Ethics is one of the only independent watchdogs responsible for holding members of Congress accountable for misconduct. It reviews allegations of corruption, abuse of power, and ethics violations — and refers credible cases for further investigation.

But right now, the OCE is effectively powerless — and Speaker Mike Johnson is to blame.

By law, the office’s work cannot move forward unless its board is fully appointed. Democrats have named their members. But Speaker Johnson has refused to appoint the Republican seats, leaving the board without a quorum — and preventing it from launching or completing any investigations.

This is not a bureaucratic delay. It’s a deliberate effort to shield lawmakers from scrutiny and block the public from learning the truth. Without a functioning ethics office, serious misconduct can go uninvestigated — and members of Congress can violate the rules with impunity.

Americans deserve transparency, accountability, and a Congress that plays by the rules. Speaker Johnson’s refusal to seat a full ethics board sends the opposite message: that protecting his party matters more than protecting the integrity of the House.

Add your name to demand that Speaker Mike Johnson stop blocking the Office of Congressional Ethics and immediately appoint Republican board members so the office can do its job.