Cheney Energy Task Force

Since April 2001, Rep. Waxman and Rep. John Dingell, ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, have been seeking information about the energy task force headed by Vice President Cheney. This request for information was prompted by news reports that the task force had met privately with major campaign contributors to discuss energy policy. The Bush Administration has been unwilling to provide that information, even to the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress. (Last Updated March 15, 2005)

Latest News

Vice President Asked to Disclosed Energy Task Force Contacts with Enron

Rep. Waxman wrote the Vice President asking that he disclose details about contacts between his energy task force and Enron Corp., in light of the company's recent financial collapse and press reports suggesting that Enron had extensive dealings with the task force.

GAO Reiterates Concern Over Vice President's Failure to Provide Energy Task Force Information

GAO reiterated that it remains "very concerned regarding the failure of the Vice President to provide the information that we requested" but added that "given our current national focus on combating terrorism and enhancing homeland security, this matter is not a current priority."

GAO Declares Information for Vice President's Office "Inadequate"

GAO declared that the "limited amount of information from the Vice President's office" was "clearly inadequate in light of GAO's request." GAO also indicated that it is "preparing for possible litigation."

Vice President Urged to Reconsider Decision to Not Cooperate with GAO

In response to a Los Angeles Times article detailing numerous incidents of unusual access and influence by special interests, Reps. Waxman and Dingell sent a letter to Vice President Cheney urging him to reconsider his decision not to cooperate with the GAO.

Comptroller General Issues Report on White House Refusal to Cooperate with GAO Investigation

The Comptroller General issued a formal report regarding the White House's refusal to cooperate with GAO's investigation. As stipulated in 31 U.S.C. § 716, the report was filed with the President and Congress. This represents just the fifth such report that GAO has issued in the 21 years since § 716 was enacted, and it is the first report regarding non-cooperation by the President or Vice-President.

GAO Corrects Inaccuracies in Vice President's Letter

In a written statement, GAO corrected certain inaccuracies in the Vice President's letter regarding the scope of the GAO investigation: "Contrary to the Vice President's statements, we are not interested in obtaining his daily schedule or reviewing communications involving the President, the Vice President, the President's senior advisors and others. We have made this clear in several communications to the Vice President's representatives. We are simply asking for facts that the Vice President, as Chair of the National Energy Policy Development Group, or others representing the group, would be in a position to provide to GAO." GAO's statement pointed out that the Comptroller General had attempted to speak with the Vice President the previous week, without success.

Vice President Rebuffs GAO Demands for Information

Vice President Cheney rebuffed GAO's formal demand for information. In a letter to the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Vice President asserted that the Comptroller General has "exceed[ed] his lawful authority" and that GAO's investigation "would unconstitutionally interfere with the functioning of the Executive Branch."

Comptroller General Demands "Full and Complete Access"

Faced with continued White House intransigence, the Comptroller General wrote to the Vice President "to demand full and complete access" to the information, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. § 716. This represents only the 32nd time that GAO has issued a formal demand letter. By law, the Vice President had 20 days to respond to the letter.

GAO Details Legal Basis for Investigation

GAO's General Counsel responded to Mr. Addington by explaining in painstaking detail the legal basis for the investigation. The ten-page letter observed that "GAO has broad authority . . . to conduct the subject review and obtain [the] information requested." The letter pointed out that GAO has conducted numerous reviews of White House programs and activities in the past, such as President Clinton's Task Force on Health Care Reform and the White House China Trade Relations Group. The letter pointed to two statutes which "provide clear authority for the subject inquiry" and which give GAO tremendous discretion in performing its investigations. According to GAO, "[i]t would be difficult to conceive of language giving any official greater discretion than does the language in the statutory provisions at issue."

Counsel to Vice President Asserts No Legal Basis for GAO Investigation

Mr. Addington informed GAO that he did not believe that its investigation had a legal basis. Mr. Addington conceded that GAO was empowered to evaluate programs or activities which "the Government carries out under existing law," but he made the far-fetched argument that this provision did not extend to the activities of the energy task force because the task force carried out its operations under the authority of the Constitution. Mr. Addington further asserted that GAO's authority to investigate matters related to the use of public money was extremely limited.

GAO Explains Investigation is Lawful and Appropriate

GAO formally responded to Mr. Addington by explaining that its investigation was lawful and appropriate.

Counsel to Vice President Again Questions GAO Investigation

Mr. Addington reiterated his previously stated positions.

Dismay at Vice President's Unwillingness to Cooperate with GAO Investigation

Reps. Waxman and Dingell wrote to Mr. Addington to express their dismay at his unwillingness to cooperate with GAO and his questioning of GAO's authority to conduct an investigation. The letter dismissed Mr. Addington's ill-defined attempt to protect executive deliberations and explained that by precedent, executive privilege could only be invoked by the President himself.

Counsel to Vice President Questions GAO Investigation

Counsel to the Vice President Addington wrote to GAO asking whether GAO's investigation was appropriate, legal and productive. Mr. Addington suggested that the investigation might intrude into "Executive deliberations."

Concern Over White House's Refusal to Provide Basic Information on Energy Task Force

Reps. Waxman and Dingell again wrote to Mr. Lundquist expressing their concern over the White House's refusal to provide basic information about the task force and reiterating their desire to obtain this information.

Counsel to Vice President Refuses to Turn Over Task Force Records

David Addington, counsel to Vice President Cheney, responded with a letter to Reps. Tauzin and Burton in which he refused to identify whom the task force had met with or who served on the task force staff. Mr. Addington also declined to turn over records produced or received by the task force in connection with its meetings with outside groups.

White House Asked for Information on Energy Task Force Operations

Rep. Waxman and Rep. Dingell wrote to Andrew Lundquist, the executive director of the White House's energy task force, asking for information on the task force's operations. President Bush established the task force in January under the Vice President's leadership, and entrusted it with the task of developing a national energy policy. Also on April 19, Reps. Waxman and Dingell wrote to the General Accounting Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, asking it to investigate the conduct, operations, and funding of the task force. The congressional investigation of the task force was prompted by news reports that the task force had met privately with major campaign contributors, such as Kenneth Lay, the CEO of Enron, to discuss energy policy. According to these reports, major Republican contributors attended private sessions with Vice President Cheney and the task force met secretly with other contributors in formulating the President's National Energy Policy.

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