Two-star Navy Admiral Brian Monahan has resigned from his position as attending physician to Congress following serious misconduct allegations and a scathing Defense Department inspector general report that uncovered dangerous gaps in medical oversight affecting lawmakers, Supreme Court justices, and Capitol staff.
Dangerous Lapses in Medical Care Uncovered
The Defense Department inspector general investigation revealed alarming deficiencies in how the Office of the Attending Physician operated under Monahan’s leadership. Investigators discovered prescription medications, including sleep aids and pain relievers, were not properly tracked or inventoried. This lack of oversight created serious health and safety risks for patients who had no way of knowing their medical care lacked proper monitoring and quality controls.
According to sources with knowledge of the matter, Monahan resigned specifically because of allegations involving his decisions about medical care and what he required Navy personnel under his command to provide. The inspector general’s report identified critical gaps in clinical quality management that should alarm every American concerned about accountability in government operations.
Military Personnel Pressured and Overworked
Navy Times reported that military personnel assigned to the office endured punishing 70 to 80 hour work weeks while being pressured to perform tasks far outside normal medical duties. These sailors allegedly were forced to cut congressmen’s toenails and deliver medications to private residences at three o’clock in the morning, raising serious questions about the misuse of military resources and personnel.
The Navy has launched its own separate inquiry into the Office of the Attending Physician operations. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated he wants assurances that member health remains protected, though he claimed no prior knowledge of circumstances surrounding Monahan’s departure.
Decades of Service End in Controversy
Monahan served as attending physician since 2009, overseeing medical care for Congress, staff, the Supreme Court, and Capitol visitors. The Office of the Attending Physician, operated by the Navy since 1928, provides first aid services, general medical support, and disaster response planning for the Capitol complex. Monahan also held positions as professor and former chairman of medicine at Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland.
The inspector general issued five recommendations for reform, including designating outside oversight for quality control and establishing clear policies and procedures for office employees. These safeguards should have existed from the beginning, protecting both the dedicated military personnel serving and the high-ranking officials receiving care. The Office of the Attending Physician has not responded to multiple requests for comment about the resignation or the troubling findings.