Dr Brian Monahan, the longtime physician responsible for providing medical care to members of Congress and Supreme Court justices, has left his post amid a military investigation into allegations of misconduct, mismanagement and a toxic work environment at his office.
Monahan, a two-star Navy rear admiral who served as the attending physician of the US Capitol since 2009, stepped down following complaints from Navy personnel assigned to his office. The allegations include excessive working hours, threats against staff who complained and demands to perform personal tasks for lawmakers, including cutting their toenails.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed Monahan's departure on Thursday, saying, "My understanding is he's resigned." It is not known whether Monahan resigned voluntarily or was removed from the position. The Washington Post reported that Monahan said in a voicemail message that he was no longer serving with the Office of the Attending Physician. Punchbowl News reported that his departure followed a prolonged internal struggle involving allegations of mismanagement and workplace misconduct.
Navy personnel assigned to the congressional medical office reportedly complained that they were routinely made to work between 70 and 80 hours a week. According to reports by Navy Times, staff members were also threatened with losing bonuses if they raised concerns or requested leave.
The complaints included allegations that sailors were assigned duties beyond their medical responsibilities, such as clipping lawmakers' toenails and delivering medication to their private residences in the middle of the night. Some personnel reportedly had to work extended shifts when Congress remained in session late into the night and return to duty early the following morning.
A former Navy hospital corpsman described working 12-hour shifts, with duty every other day, and said staff could sometimes remain at work until 4 am before returning for a regular 6 am shift. The allegations reportedly span several years, with complaints about the working environment dating back more than a decade.
Monahan's departure coincided with the release of a Defense Department inspector general report that identified serious shortcomings in the oversight of the congressional medical office. The report found gaps in clinical quality management and inadequate monitoring of prescription medications.
Investigators discovered discrepancies in pharmacy inventories, including shortages of sleep medication compared with recorded stock levels. Other controlled substances also had inventory discrepancies. The watchdog warned that the absence of proper clinical oversight could expose patients to health and safety risks because prescribing practices were not being adequately monitored.
The report made five recommendations to improve supervision and accountability at the office, including appointing an independent organisation to oversee clinical quality and establishing clearer policies and procedures. The Navy is also conducting a separate investigation into the office and the allegations involving Monahan.
Monahan had served as the attending physician of the US Capitol since 2009. The Office of the Attending Physician provides medical services to members of Congress, congressional staff, Supreme Court justices and visitors to the Capitol complex.
Its responsibilities extend beyond routine medical treatment and include emergency medical support, prescriptions, referrals, vaccinations and planning for medical emergencies and disasters involving the Capitol. A physician certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology, Monahan previously served as the personal physician to former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. Neither Monahan nor the Navy had publicly provided a detailed response to the allegations at the time of the reports.
