Federal Agencies Face Subpoenas Over Withheld COVID-19 Vaccine Data

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is intensifying pressure on federal health agencies to release unredacted records on COVID-19 vaccine safety. As the incoming chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Johnson has pledged to subpoena the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) if they fail to cooperate.

Johnson’s Tuesday letter accused the Biden administration of blocking oversight efforts and hiding critical data, including information on myocarditis risks associated with vaccines. The letter highlighted a suppressed 2021 draft Health Alert Network (HAN) message, intended to warn the public and healthcare providers.

The senator’s demands include the immediate preservation and release of all communications related to vaccine safety, including unredacted reports from Pfizer and the CDC. He has given the agencies a deadline of December 3 to comply.

“For years, I have sought transparency from these agencies,” Johnson stated, noting that their refusal to provide unredacted documents has hindered Congressional investigations.

Johnson’s leadership of the Senate subcommittee signals a shift toward greater oversight of federal health agencies. He has warned that any further resistance to his requests will result in subpoenas.

This marks a continuation of Johnson’s broader efforts to hold health officials accountable for pandemic-related decisions. The senator has sent dozens of oversight letters in recent years, seeking answers on issues such as vaccine safety and the origins of COVID-19.