House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have launched a bipartisan task force to reform sexual-misconduct procedures [1, 2].
The move follows a recent series of sexual-misconduct allegations within the House of Representatives. Leaders aim to create a safer work environment by overhauling the processes used to report and investigate such claims [2, 4].
The partnership is led by Johnson and Jeffries, with primary sponsorship provided by Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) [1, 2]. The task force will propose new rules and reforms to ensure that claims are handled with greater consistency, and transparency on Capitol Hill [3, 5].
According to reports from May 13, 2026, the effort is designed to address systemic gaps in how the House manages harassment allegations [2]. The bipartisan nature of the group suggests a shared urgency to modernize the internal justice system for congressional staff and members.
The task force will focus on the reporting process, looking for ways to make it more accessible for victims while maintaining due process. By establishing new guidelines, the House leadership intends to reduce the volatility and opacity that have characterized previous misconduct probes [2, 5].
This initiative represents a coordinated attempt by the highest levels of House leadership to signal a zero-tolerance approach to workplace harassment. The final proposals from the task force are expected to shape the House's internal rules for the remainder of the term [1, 3].
“A bipartisan task force to propose new rules and reforms for handling sexual-misconduct claims.”
The formation of this task force indicates that current House protocols are insufficient for handling the volume or nature of recent misconduct allegations. By involving both the Speaker and the Minority Leader, the initiative attempts to prevent the reporting process from becoming a partisan weapon, potentially leading to more standardized disciplinary actions across the aisle.
