Capitol's top doctor Brian Monahan resigns as Pentagon watchdog cites lax drug oversight

Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician of the U.S. Capitol, has resigned as lawmakers' top doctor amid allegations of misconduct. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, announced it Thursday ¹.

Reports differ on how he left. CBS News says he resigned. Punchbowl News, as relayed by Mediaite, first reported that the Navy had removed him while an investigation was under way ¹².

What the allegations and the watchdog report say

One source told CBS News that Monahan, a two-star Navy admiral, resigned after allegations about what he chose to do, and what he asked the sailors under him to do, in providing care. These are allegations. The details have not been made public ¹.

His exit came with a report from the Defense Department's inspector general, the Pentagon's internal watchdog. The public version has many redactions and few specifics. It found a "gap in clinical quality management" in the Office of the Attending Physician ¹.

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Investigators found that some prescription drugs, including sleep aids and pain medication, were not properly inventoried or tracked ¹. The report warned this could leave patients "unknowingly assuming health and safety risks." The office's prescribing practices were not being monitored ¹.

CBS also learned that the Navy is running its own inquiry into the office ¹. Mediaite reported that a civilian deputy under Monahan was also fired, citing the same reporting ².

The Navy Times reported that military staff in the office were pressured to work 70 to 80 hours a week. They were also asked to do tasks "no one else wants to do ... like cutting a congressman's toenails or bringing their medication to their private residence at 3 a.m." ¹.

The Office of the Attending Physician did not reply to CBS's requests for comment ¹.

Why it matters

Since 1928, the Navy has run medical care for Congress, congressional staff, the Supreme Court and visitors to the Capitol complex through this office. It also helps plan for disasters that could strike the Capitol ¹. Monahan has held the post since 2009 ¹.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, told CBS News he had no knowledge of the circumstances behind Monahan's dismissal. He said he wants to make sure members' health is protected ¹.

That matters because the people who write the nation's health laws get their own care from an office that, by the watchdog's account, was not tracking some of its medicines. No one outside the office was checking its quality control ¹.

What happens next

The inspector general made five recommendations. They include naming an outside group to oversee quality control and writing policies and procedures for office employees ¹. The Navy inquiry is still open, and no successor has been named in the coverage reviewed ¹.

Democrats take over House committees in January, so they could press for answers on how the office was run. The coverage so far does not say that any committee has planned a hearing.

The Record

1. Jan 1, 1928The Navy, through the Office of the Attending Physician, begins caring for Congress, staff, the Supreme Court and Capitol visitors ¹.
2. Jan 1, 2009Brian Monahan becomes the Capitol's attending physician ¹.
3. Nov 12, 2026Thune says Monahan has resigned; the Defense Department inspector general's public report cites a 'gap in clinical quality management' ¹².

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<h2>Capitol&#39;s top doctor Brian Monahan resigns as Pentagon watchdog cites lax drug oversight</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Capitol Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/capitol-s-top-doctor-brian-monahan-resigns-as-pentagon-watchdog-cites-lax-drug-oversight">The GOP Files</a> on Friday, November 13, 2026.</em></p> <p>Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician of the U.S. Capitol, has resigned as lawmakers&#39; top doctor amid allegations of misconduct. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, announced it Thursday .</p> <p>Reports differ on how he left. CBS News says he resigned. Punchbowl News, as relayed by Mediaite, first reported that the Navy had removed him while an investigation was under way .</p> <h2>What the allegations and the watchdog report say</h2> <p>One source told CBS News that Monahan, a two-star Navy admiral, resigned after allegations about what he chose to do, and what he asked the sailors under him to do, in providing care. These are allegations. The details have not been made public .</p> <p>His exit came with a report from the Defense Department&#39;s inspector general, the Pentagon&#39;s internal watchdog. The public version has many redactions and few specifics. It found a &quot;gap in clinical quality management&quot; in the Office of the Attending Physician .</p> <p>Investigators found that some prescription drugs, including sleep aids and pain medication, were not properly inventoried or tracked . The report warned this could leave patients &quot;unknowingly assuming health and safety risks.&quot; The office&#39;s prescribing practices were not being monitored .</p> <p>CBS also learned that the Navy is running its own inquiry into the office . Mediaite reported that a civilian deputy under Monahan was also fired, citing the same reporting .</p> <p>The Navy Times reported that military staff in the office were pressured to work 70 to 80 hours a week. They were also asked to do tasks &quot;no one else wants to do ... like cutting a congressman&#39;s toenails or bringing their medication to their private residence at 3 a.m.&quot; .</p> <p>The Office of the Attending Physician did not reply to CBS&#39;s requests for comment .</p> <h2>Why it matters</h2> <p>Since 1928, the Navy has run medical care for Congress, congressional staff, the Supreme Court and visitors to the Capitol complex through this office. It also helps plan for disasters that could strike the Capitol . Monahan has held the post since 2009 .</p> <p>House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, told CBS News he had no knowledge of the circumstances behind Monahan&#39;s dismissal. He said he wants to make sure members&#39; health is protected .</p> <p>That matters because the people who write the nation&#39;s health laws get their own care from an office that, by the watchdog&#39;s account, was not tracking some of its medicines. No one outside the office was checking its quality control .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>The inspector general made five recommendations. They include naming an outside group to oversee quality control and writing policies and procedures for office employees . The Navy inquiry is still open, and no successor has been named in the coverage reviewed .</p> <p>Democrats take over House committees in January, so they could press for answers on how the office was run. The coverage so far does not say that any committee has planned a hearing.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/capitol-s-top-doctor-brian-monahan-resigns-as-pentagon-watchdog-cites-lax-drug-oversight">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/capitol-s-top-doctor-brian-monahan-resigns-as-pentagon-watchdog-cites-lax-drug-oversight.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. CBS News, “Top doctor for Congress resigns amid misconduct allegations” (2026-11-13). cbsnews.com/news/brian-monahan-resigns-congress-doctor-misco
2. Mediaite, “Brian Monahan Fired as Congress Attending Physician: Report” (2026-11-12). mediaite.com/media/news/congress-attending-physician-reporte

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