American Oversight has been investigating expectations of loyalty across the government, as well as attempts to purge employees who used to work in the Obama administration.

Lambda Legal and American Oversight filed a lawsuit seeking to compel the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to produce documents related to Supreme Court Justice Nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s work in the George W. Bush administration, particularly his involvement in policies that discriminated against LGBTQ children, families and relationships. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Records obtained by American Oversight reveal a pattern of politically-motivated hiring at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A list of political appointees who have joined USDA since March 2017, along with appointees’ resumes, show that unqualified candidates, particularly former campaign staffers who expressed loyalty to President Trump, obtained leadership positions at the agency. Other resumes show officials who, while possessing experience in agricultural policy, came to USDA directly from the industries that the agency regulates. 

American Oversight's ongoing investigation of the Department of Education has uncovered detailed calendars for Secretary DeVos' past year in office. Those calendars give us a window into Secretary DeVos' priorities, who she and other senior appointees met with, and how they have been managing issues including gun violence, sexual assault on campus, and student lending.