Capitol Hill staffers often depend on private conversations and anonymous social media accounts to identify toxic workplaces. A new platform now provides a verified space to rate members of Congress and their offices anonymously. Capitol CNCT, a program supporting congressional staffers, introduced ‘The Scoop’ on July 20. This tool allows verified employees to share anonymous reviews of their workplaces.
David Tennent, a former staffer, founded Capitol CNCT to enhance young professionals’ experience in Washington, D.C. Tennent recognized a need for transparency due to increasing frustration with difficult supervisors and toxic environments in Congress. He stated, ‘I wanted to create something that gave a little bit more transparency to the process and help staffers find the best opportunities available.’
Early reviews are beginning to shed light on the work culture in congressional offices. Although most offices have few ratings, high-rated offices include those of Reps. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Michael Rulli (R-Ohio), and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.). Among the Senate, the top are Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Eric Schmitt (R-Miss.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).
Conversely, the lowest-rated offices are Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). These offices did not respond to requests for comment regarding their rankings.
Congress lacks a centralized human resources department, complicating the reporting of abusive workplaces. ‘The Scoop’ aims to offer a trustworthy feedback system from verified staff. As Tennent explained, ‘We verify the office in which they’ve worked. We sift through all reviews before they go live to ensure that staffer has actually worked in that office.’
The review process involves verifying legitimate House and Senate email addresses attached to each account. ‘My biggest fear was creating a political retribution platform without evidence or verification,’ Tennent said. Results indicate Republican offices receive reviews almost twice as frequently as Democratic ones.
This launch coincides with increased attention on Capitol Hill’s workplace culture, following several misconduct allegations this year. Notably, Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) resigned in April due to accusations of sexual misconduct.
Tennent hopes that the new tool not only supports staffers but also acts as constructive criticism for congressional offices. He envisions that poor ratings will prompt office leaders to enhance workplace morale and communication strategies.
Hannah is a Production Assistant for the Politics team at Fox News Digital.
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