Lawmaker Health Disclosures Draw Renewed Attention After Recent Absences

Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. has been absent from the House since March after an undisclosed health issue and missed more than 100 votes. He is scheduled to return on June 30 and is expected to provide additional details at that time. Speaker Mike Johnson said he knows the nature of the condition but will not disclose it because the member asked him not to.

Johnson described the issue as "very common" and stated that members are entitled to privacy when ill.

Recent Cases Sen.

Mitch McConnell was recently hospitalized for an undisclosed condition. A spokesperson said he remains engaged with staff on Senate and state matters but provided no further details. The case surfaced after local reporting and months of missed votes.

An Ipsos poll released in 2025 found that a majority of Americans believe they do not receive enough information about lawmakers' health and that elected officials are not always honest about their conditions. Large majorities also supported mandatory cognitive testing and age limits for presidents.

Members of the House Ethics Committee told the Washington Examiner that decisions on disclosure should remain with individual lawmakers. They noted that any new rules would need to apply equally to both parties and would require Congress to regulate itself.

Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette of the Project On Government Oversight said constituents are deprived of representation when members are absent for extended periods without explanation. He argued that basic information about capacity to serve should be shared even if full medical details remain private.