The Navy has reportedly removed Rear Adm. Brian Monahan, the doctor who has cared for members of Congress since 2009, while its inspector general investigates him for alleged misconduct.
Story Highlights
- The removal was first reported late Wednesday, November 11, citing several people familiar with the matter.
- Reports say the Naval Inspector General is investigating Monahan, and its report was expected to be made public within days.
- Monahan’s civilian deputy was reportedly fired at the same time.
- The Navy has not issued a public statement, and Monahan has not responded publicly.
Navy Removes Capitol’s Top Doctor During Investigation
According to reports, the Navy took Monahan out of his post as attending physician of Congress because of an ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct. The attending physician runs the medical office that treats members of Congress, their staff and the justices of the Supreme Court. Monahan, a rear admiral, which is a senior officer rank in the Navy, has held the job since 2009, when President Barack Obama picked him for it. Before that, he led the blood disease and cancer department at the Navy’s medical center.
The investigation is reportedly being run by the Naval Inspector General, the Navy’s own internal watchdog office. Reports have not described what Monahan is accused of doing, and none of the reports name a rule he is said to have broken. The Navy has not given its own account of why he was removed. A removal during an investigation is a personnel step, not a final finding of wrongdoing.
Deputy Reportedly Fired As Personnel Steps Broaden
Monahan’s deputy, a civilian doctor, was also let go at the same time, according to reports. The deputy has not been named. Reports have not said whether the deputy’s firing is tied to the same investigation or to a separate matter.
Two departures at once is a big change for the office. It handles the private health care of the nation’s lawmakers and justices, so who leads it matters to the people who depend on it. The Navy has not said who will run the office in Monahan’s place.
How Inspector General Investigations Typically Work
A military inspector general first checks a complaint to see whether it describes a real rule being broken and whether it falls under that office’s authority. If it does, investigators gather evidence and interview witnesses, then decide whether the claims are supported. These reviews are administrative, not criminal. Leaders can move someone out of a job while the review goes on.
Reports on Wednesday, November 11, said the inspector general’s report on Monahan was expected to be made public by the end of that week. As of Thursday, November 12, no report had been posted publicly.
Why This Matters To Constitutional Governance
Monahan has been a public figure in some big fights. During the COVID years, he backed the mask rules for the House floor. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman from Kentucky, was fined for refusing to follow those rules. After word of the removal spread, Massie wrote on X that Monahan “is part of the deep Congress” and “endorsed and gave false credibility to Pelosi’s ridiculous mask mandate on members of Congress, which I ignored and was fined for doing so.”
In 2023, Monahan also signed the letters that cleared then-Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell to keep working after McConnell froze in front of reporters. Neither Massie’s criticism nor those letters are part of what the Navy is reportedly investigating. At last report, Monahan and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi had not responded to Massie’s comments.
What To Watch Next
The next big step is the Naval Inspector General’s report, which should lay out what Monahan was accused of and whether investigators found the claims to be true. Watch also for a Navy statement on who is running the Capitol’s medical office and whether the deputy’s case is part of the same matter.
Until the report comes out, here is what has been reported: the Navy removed Monahan while its watchdog investigates him, his deputy was let go, and the details of the case have not been made public. Lawmakers and justices trust this office with their health. They, and the voters they serve, deserve a clear account once the report is released.
Sources:
thegatewaypundit.com, mediaite.com, primetimer.com, nbcnews.com, gao.gov
