House GOP Subpoenas Biden Officials Over Alleged Misallocation of ‘Bidenbucks’

House Republicans have intensified their scrutiny of the Biden administration’s alleged misuse of federal funds for partisan voter registration efforts, issuing subpoenas to five top officials.

At a Glance

House GOP Chairman Bryan Steil subpoenaed five Biden administration officials over ‘Bidenbucks’ controversy
Subpoenas seek information on federal agencies’ involvement in voter registration activities
Republicans allege misuse of taxpayer funds for partisan voter turnout efforts
Controversy stems from Biden’s Executive Order 14019 on Promoting Access to Voting

GOP Demands Answers on ‘Bidenbucks’ Allocation

In a bold move to uncover potential misuse of federal funds, House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil has issued subpoenas to five Biden administration officials. The subpoenas demand sworn depositions regarding the implementation of President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting, which Republicans have dubbed ‘Bidenbucks’.

The subpoenas target officials from the Departments of Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Justice, and Agriculture. These agencies have allegedly failed to comply with previous congressional requests for information on their strategic plans to implement the executive order.

House GOP Chairman Steil subpoenas five Biden admin officials over 'Bidenbucks'

House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil on Thursday announced that subpoenas were issued for five Biden administration officials over “Bidenbucks,” President Biden’s executive order to… pic.twitter.com/ymcc1h6lnz

— Melissa Hallman (@dotconnectinga) August 29, 2024

Concerns Over Partisan Use of Federal Resources

Republicans argue that the executive order, which instructs federal agencies to engage in voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities, is an attempt to influence the 2024 elections using taxpayer dollars. They claim that many of the third-party organizations approved for collaboration are extremely left-wing, raising concerns about the partisan nature of these efforts.

“Americans deserve transparency and trust in their elections. However, the Biden Administration has refused to comply with a lawfully issued congressional subpoena and cooperate with our investigation into their plan to use federal agencies to ‘get out the vote,'” Steil said.

The term ‘Bidenbucks’ draws parallels to ‘Zuckerbucks,’ referring to funds from Mark Zuckerberg allegedly used to support Democratic voter turnout in the 2020 election. This comparison underscores the GOP’s suspicion of potential partisan manipulation in election processes.

House Republicans Subpoena Biden-Harris Officials For Depositions Over ‘Bidenbucks’ Secrecyhttps://t.co/xdgYLuS3No

— The Federalist (@FDRLST) August 29, 2024

Constitutional Concerns and Legal Challenges

Chairman Steil emphasizes that the Constitution grants states the primary role in establishing election law and administering elections. He argues that federal agencies should not use funds and resources for voter registration materials, as it may overstep constitutional boundaries.

“Elections are partisan, but our election administration should never be partisan. Allowing federal employees from the Biden Administration to flood election administration sites threatens election integrity and reduces Americans’ confidence,” Chairman Steil said.

A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the executive order is currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court will consider whether to hear oral arguments on September 30, with a ruling likely to come after the November election. This legal challenge adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing controversy surrounding ‘Bidenbucks’ and its potential impact on the 2024 elections.