Joyce, Donalds Lead Effort to Compel Answers from Biden Administration on Disinformation Governance Board

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) introduced a Resolution of Inquiry (ROI) to compel the Biden Administration to turn over documents relating to the creation, implementation, and pause of its Disinformation Governance Board under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Congressman Byron Donalds (FL-19) is joining him in leading this important effort.

“Like many back home in Northeast Ohio, I was alarmed when the Biden Administration announced its Disinformation Governance Board and have been appalled by the lack of transparency surrounding it,” said Rep. Joyce. “While I welcome the news that the Board has been paused, the Administration hasn’t provided the American people with any information on how long this pause will last, let alone how the Board was created, which specific activities it is intended to conduct, or what prevents the Board from violating the Constitution. I’m proud to introduce a Resolution of Inquiry to demand answers from the Biden Administration on this un-American creation. We cannot allow the federal government to undermine the First Amendment with political tools that referee free speech.”

“The Biden administration’s attempt to alter and control the ideology of truth is undoubtedly a threat to our Constitution, freedom of speech, and our republic,” said Rep. Donalds. “The creation of the Disinformation Governance Board—even with the recently announced temporary pause— will prove to be volatile and detrimental to civilized political discourse in our nation. I’m proud to join Rep. Joyce in this House Resolution of Inquiry to uncover this administration’s intent of the Board, activities of the Board, and what censorship mechanisms will be put in place when monitoring free-thinking Americans.”

On April 27, 2022, while speaking at a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced the creation of its Disinformation Governance Board. Later that same day, Nina Jankowicz announced via Twitter that she had been selected by the Biden Administration to head-up the Disinformation Governance Board. On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, DHS announced that it had temporarily paused the Board’s work and accepted Jankowicz’s resignation. The announcement makes clear that the Board has not been formally terminated but will be reviewed by members of a DHS advisory council.

Specifically, the ROI would ask for the following sources of information on a myriad of specific topics: copies of all documents, memoranda, advisory legal opinions, notes from meetings, audio recordings, records (including telephone and electronic mail records), correspondence, and other communications, or any portion of any such communications. The requested documents would cover information relating to meetings pertaining to the creation of the Disinformation Governance Board, meetings held with former Administration officials, current government officials, and outside groups, the selection process used to determine who would lead the board, as well as the recently announced paused amongst other issue areas.

You can read the full resolution here. 

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