Ahead of Confirmation Hearing, Warren Presses Health Department Watchdog Nominee on Record of Extreme Partisanship, Alleged Mismanagement of Taxpayer Funds

Ahead of Confirmation Hearing, Warren Presses Health Department Watchdog Nominee on Record of Extreme Partisanship, Alleged Mismanagement of Taxpayer Funds

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pressed Thomas March Bell, nominee to be Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ahead of his confirmation hearing, on his record of extreme partisanship and mismanagement of taxpayer funds, among other concerns. Bell's hearing before the Senate Finance Committee will take place on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

"[Y]our alleged mismanagement of taxpayer funds and long record of allowing your highly partisan positions to improperly color your policy recommendations raise serious concerns about whether you possess the skills, character, and judgment necessary to credibly serve as HHS IG," wrote Senator Warren.

If confirmed, Bell would be responsible for ensuring program integrity of HHS's more than $1 trillion budget, along with conducting audits, investigations, and evaluations to root out fraud, waste, and abuse in federal health programs.

From November 2015 to January 2017, Bell led a "controversial and highly partisan" Congressional investigation into Planned Parenthood, reportedly working with anti-abortion activists to "weaken Planned Parenthood." Throughout that investigation, Bell reportedly made "lots of calls" to the same anti-abortion advocate who "misleadingly edited videos" that formed the basis for the investigation and was found by a federal court to have engaged in "repeated instances of fraud, including the manufacture of fake documents" to be used against Planned Parenthood. Despite finding no evidence of wrongdoing, Bell recommended that Planned Parenthood be stripped of U.S. funding.

Bell now serves as Senior Counsel to Republicans on the House Administration Committee, which is leading a Congressional investigation into Democratic fundraising site ActBlue - widely known to be based on unsubstantiated claims, and prompted by President Trump's demands.

Bell's professional record also includes allegations of mishandling taxpayer funds. In 1997, he resigned from his position as deputy director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality after a legislative audit found that he authorized nearly $8,000 in payments and taxpayer funds to a former spokesperson with no documentation. His conduct was found to violate not only internal procedures, but also Commonwealth-wide policies designed to protect taxpayer funds. Bell provided no public explanation for this behavior.

As HHS IG, Bell would be responsible for ensuring employees follow the law and investigating crimes or gross misconduct.

"[This is]...especially important given the multiple high-level officials with documented conflicts of interest that President Trump has installed at HHS. Together, these are extraordinary responsibilities and require an individual with a successful and proven track record. You do not appear to meet these standards," said Senator Warren.

Senator Warren asked Bell to provide an explanation for his past behavior and commit not to use the HHS IG role, if confirmed, to pursue a partisan agenda by November 5, 2025.

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