As expected, unified Democratic control of the federal government has led to a busy session of congressional oversight for the private sector. In addition to broad investigations launched by Congress’ standing investigative committees, two select committees—one investigating the COVID-19 crisis and another investigating the events of Jan. 6—have been quite active. With the 2022 elections just seven months away, we expect this oversight to continue as Democrats make the most of what may be time-limited control of the federal government.

Unlike in prior years, congressional committees exercising their oversight authority have issued subpoenas early and often to compel production of documents or witness interviews. Congress typically relies on voluntary request letters to seek evidence for its inquiries, but committees are increasingly wasting no time in threatening—and issuing—compulsory process in their investigations. For example, according to the New York Times, the select committee on Jan. 6 issued more than 100 subpoenas in its first eight months of existence and has taken aggressive steps to ensure compliance.

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