United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
House Oversight Committee

Standing committee
Active United States House of Representatives 119th Congress
History
Formed	1927
Leadership
Chair	James Comer (R) Since January 10, 2023
Ranking member	Robert Garcia (D) Since June 24, 2025
Structure
Seats	47
Political parties	Majority (26)      Republican (26) Minority (21)      Democratic (21)
Subcommittees
Cyber Security, Information Technology and Government Innovation National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs Government Operations Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs Health Care and Financial Services Delivering on Government Efficiency Federal Law Enforcement Coronavirus Crisis (Select) (118th Congress)
Website
(Republican) (Democratic)
Rules
*

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the main investigative group in the United States House of Representatives. Think of it as the "watchdog" for the U.S. government. Its job is to make sure the government is working well and not wasting money.

Because this committee can investigate almost any part of the government, it is one of the most powerful committees in the House. The leader of the committee, called the chair, has a special power. They can issue a subpoena, which is a legal order for someone to provide information or testify, without needing a vote from the rest of the committee.

The current chair is James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky. The ranking member, who is the leader of the minority party on the committee, is Robert Garcia, a Democrat from California.

What Does the Committee Do?

The main job of the Oversight Committee is to check on the U.S. federal government and all its different parts. This is called "oversight." The committee's goal is to find and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs. It works to make the government more efficient and effective for the American people.

The committee has a very broad jurisdiction, which means it has the authority to investigate many different areas. These areas include:

• The federal workforce, including government employees.
• The government of Washington, D.C..
• The United States Postal Service.
• The U.S. Census.
• The National Archives and Records Administration, which keeps the nation's important records.
• How the government buys goods and services.

History of the Committee

The committee wasn't always called the Oversight Committee. It was created in 1927 as the Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments. Its job was to watch over government spending.

Over the years, its name and duties have changed.

• In 1952, it became the Committee on Government Operations. This new name showed its wider mission to check on how well the government was running.
• In the 1990s, it was renamed the Committee on Government Reform. It also took on the jobs of other committees that dealt with the Post Office and the Civil Service.
• In 2007, it was renamed the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
• For a few years, it was called the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, but the name was changed back in 2025.

Today, many people just call it the "Oversight Committee" for short.

Using Subpoenas

A subpoena is a powerful tool that forces people or groups to hand over documents or testify at a hearing. The committee's rules on how to use subpoenas have sometimes been a topic of debate.

In 1997, the rules were changed to allow the chair to issue subpoenas without asking the ranking member from the other party. The chair at the time, Dan Burton, used this power to issue over 1,000 subpoenas related to investigations of President Bill Clinton's administration.

Later chairs used this power differently. From 2003 to 2005, Chair Tom Davis issued only three subpoenas to President George W. Bush's administration. When Darrell Issa became chair in 2011, he issued over 100 subpoenas during President Barack Obama's administration. This shows how the committee's actions can change depending on which political party is in charge.

Major Investigations and Hearings

The Oversight Committee has held many important hearings on major issues. These investigations have looked into everything from government responses to national events to the actions of federal agencies.

Bush Administration (2001–2009)

During the presidency of George W. Bush, the committee, then led by Republicans, did not hold many major investigations into events like the September 11 attacks or the government's response to Hurricane Katrina.

However, the committee did lead a well-known investigation into the use of steroids in Major League Baseball. This was prompted by a book from baseball player Jose Canseco. The committee also investigated the wellness policies of World Wrestling Entertainment after a famous wrestler died.

Obama Administration (2009–2017)

Under President Barack Obama, the committee investigated the 2008 financial crisis. It also held hearings about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a major healthcare law.

After the death of internet activist Aaron Swartz in 2013, the committee looked into how the Department of Justice handled his case. The committee leaders questioned whether the government's prosecutors had been too aggressive.

Recent Investigations

More recently, the committee has held hearings on various topics. In 2019, a subcommittee held a hearing called "Kids in Cages" to look at the treatment of children and families at the U.S. southern border.

In 2024, a special panel of the committee released a report on the COVID-19 pandemic. The report discussed the controversial idea that the virus might have come from a laboratory. It also criticized government policies like mask mandates and lockdowns.

Members, 119th Congress

The committee is made up of members from both the Republican and Democratic parties. The party with more members in the House of Representatives is called the "majority," and they get more seats on the committee. The other party is the "minority."

Subcommittees

The full committee is too big to study every issue in detail. So, it is broken down into smaller groups called subcommittees. Each subcommittee focuses on a specific area.

See also

• List of current United States House of Representatives committees