Congress’s top doctor has resigned amid misconduct allegations and a Navy inquiry into his office, where sailors say they worked 80-hour weeks and even trimmed a congressman’s toenails.
Story Snapshot
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed on Thursday, November 12, that Navy Rear Adm. Brian Monahan had resigned.
- A source told reporters the allegations involve the care Monahan chose to give and what he asked sailors to do.
- Sailors told a military newspaper of 70- to 80-hour weeks, threats to their bonuses and chores far outside their jobs.
- A Pentagon watchdog report found weak oversight of the office’s care and its drug supply.
Why He Stepped Down
Dr. Brian Monahan had been the attending physician of the U.S. Capitol since 2009. The two-star Navy admiral ran the Navy clinic that cares for members of Congress, their staff, Supreme Court justices and Capitol visitors. One source familiar with the matter said he resigned after misconduct allegations tied to the care he chose to provide and what he asked the sailors under him to do in providing it, according to reports. The Navy is conducting its own inquiry into the office, according to reports.
Navy admiral resigns as top doctor for Congress amid misconduct allegations – CBS News https://t.co/RH4kkfacSu
— Rage Against (@xNragedx) November 14, 2026
U.S. officials have said the allegations center on a toxic work environment, handing out medicine to lawmakers and staff without prescriptions, and loose control of controlled substances, according to reports. Controlled substances are drugs, such as strong painkillers, that the law tracks closely because they can be abused. Monahan has not made any public statement, and his office did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Neither Monahan nor the Navy has formally announced the resignation, according to reports.
What the Sailors Say Happened
Four current or former members of the office described their time there to a military newspaper, without giving their names. They said sailors worked 70- to 80-hour weeks, were pushed to stay past the usual three-year tour, and were reminded that their monthly bonuses could be taken away. “I am constantly reminded that I could, or could not, get a bonus this month, and it depends on me,” one sailor said.
One active-duty sailor said the jobs included “cutting a congressman’s toenails or bringing their medication to their private residence at 3 a.m.” Sailors said they also stood by as medical staff at birthday parties, dinners and VIP events. A former hospital corpsman, a Navy enlisted medic, said a supervisor threatened a deployment to the Middle East after the corpsman asked to leave. A civilian medical worker in the office said, “The men and women serving in this office are being asked to perform duties beyond those normally associated with their position.” The sailors pointed mainly to civilian supervisors and managers. Multiple sailors in the office have been moved to other posts during the investigation.
What the Watchdog Found
The Pentagon’s inspector general, the department’s internal watchdog, opened a review of the office in September 2025 and released its report the same week Monahan left. It found a “gap in clinical quality management,” meaning no one was checking the quality of the care. Some prescription drugs, including sleep aids and pain medicine, were not properly counted or tracked. The report warned that patients could face health and safety risks without knowing it.
The report also said no part of the Defense Department believes it has authority over care and pharmacy work at the office. Monahan stepped aside from the review and sent investigators to congressional lawyers, according to reports on the findings. A House lawyer then told investigators that Navy staff in the office could not speak with them without approval from Congress, and later turned down a second request for records and interviews. The report made five recommendations, including bringing in an outside group to oversee the quality of care.
What Comes Next
No replacement has been named, according to reports. The Navy has run the Capitol’s medical office since 1928, and its inquiry into the office goes on. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he did not know the circumstances of the departure but wants to make sure members’ health is protected.
Sources:
nypost.com, navytimes.com, cbsnews.com, navytimes.com, yahoo.com
