Subpoenas Served: Democrats Force Oracle's Ellison and Sicilia to Face Congress

WASHINGTON — Today, subpoenas compelling Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison and CEO Mike Sicilia to testify about the company's troubled Department of Veterans Affairs electronic health record contract were signed and served, following a bipartisan House Veterans' Affairs Committee vote forced by Democratic members.

The subpoenas require Ellison and Sicilia to answer under oath for a no-bid contract modification that raised the contract's ceiling from roughly $10 billion to $27 billion, a move approved despite years of delays, technical failures and patient safety concerns affecting veterans. Sicilia told Congress in 2022 that Oracle would bear the cost of fixing the system.

The action stems from a motion by Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., at the Committee's Sept. 2 oversight hearing. Chairman Mike Bost recessed the hearing and repeatedly pressed Democrats to withdraw the motion. They refused. Republicans ultimately joined them in a 19-0 vote to compel Ellison and Sicilia to testify.

In response to the subpoenas, Ranking Member Mark Takano, D-Calif., released the following statement:

"This is an important victory for veterans, taxpayers and congressional oversight. Oracle agreed to testify, backed out, then tried to substitute private conversations for public accountability. Nineteen members of this Committee, Republicans and Democrats, said that was unacceptable. The subpoenas are signed and served, and Larry Ellison and Mike Sicilia must answer under oath for what veterans will receive in exchange for a contract ceiling tripled behind closed doors.

"No corporation is too powerful, and no billionaire too politically connected, to answer to the American people. Larry Ellison gave $45 million to a political nonprofit backing President Trump's 2024 election before VA approved a massive increase to Oracle's no-bid contract ceiling. That sequence raises serious questions Congress has a duty to examine, especially while the administration and congressional Republicans contemplate tens of billions in cuts to benefits veterans earned through their service. Before anyone asks veterans to sacrifice a dollar, Oracle must account for every additional dollar it could receive."

Committee Democrats detailed Republicans' attempt to block the vote in the September 2 release, "After Trying to Shield Oracle, House Republicans Cave and Back Democrats' Subpoena.”

The subpoena to Ellison can viewed here and the subpoena to Scicilia can be viewed here. 

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