A House of Representatives hearing on the CIA‘s MKUltra mind control program descended into a political thrashing when Republicans quizzed former NIH researcher Elizabeth Ginexi about “integrity problems” and “trust issues” in American medical research.
The House oversight committee’s Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets billed its Tuesday morning hearing as an effort to “examine the history and timeline” of MKUltra, a clandestine program experimenting in the use of mind control, among other things, which officially ended in 1973. Yet the hearing veered off-topic when Republicans honed in on Ginexi’s testimony, which was unrelated to the program.
“I am here today because what is happening to NIH right now is not reform,” Ginexi, who worked for the NIH between 2003 and 2025, told the committee. “It is the replacement of scientific judgment with political control.”
Democrats boycotted the hearing, though they sent Ginexi presumably to signal their belief that it was a political distraction. Democrats were able to call Ginexi to testify under the House’s minority witness rule.
Psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Ginexi testifies during a hearing on the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets Subcommittee hearing on “Mind Control and Accountability: Uncovering the Truth of the CIA’s MKULTRA Project.” on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026.
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Ginexi’s prepared statement spanned 56 pages. Chairwoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) cut her oral remarks off after five minutes, however, per the committee’s rules. Luna had previously told the three witnesses that she would “not be gaveling [them] out” if they exceeded five minutes.
“Obviously this is supposed to be a hearing about MKUltra, but when you gave your opening statement — and I don’t even know why you were called to this hearing because you didn’t offer anything about MKUltra — but since you are here and you are going to defend NIH, I am going to call you out on it,” Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) said after an uncomfortable round of questions aimed at Ginexi.
After the room erupted in applause, Crane accused Ginexi of being “pretty tone deaf to what the public thinks about how the NIH handled COVID.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) dug into Ginexi about Dr. Anthony Fauci and alleged side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. After Ginexi conceded that she is “not an MKUltra expert,” Mace looked her in the eye and asked, “Why did the Dems send you here?”
At one point, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), who walked into the hearing late, offered for Binexi to “jump in” and answer a question. Another committee member chimed in, “She is with NIH,” at which point Burchett reversed his offer.
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Burchett proceeded to question another witness about whether mind control may have led to assassination attempts against President Donald Trump. Ginexi, who wore all black, sat with her arms crossed during the exchange.
Trump has implemented major restructuring and budget freezes at the NIH, which Democrats argue has disrupted critical medical research. Trump says that he wants to increase political accountability and decrease bloat at the agency, among other priorities.
