In early 2007, Chairman Waxman and Domestic Policy Subcommittee Chairman Dennis Kucinich began investigating questions about the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and its then-director, Dr. David Schwartz. Chairmen Waxman and Kucinich expressed concern about potential conflicts of interest relating to an NIEHS proposal to privatize aspects of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The members also sought information relating to allegations of other misconduct by Dr. Schwartz.

In August 2007, the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced there would be a comprehensive review of Dr. Schwartz’s conduct, and Dr. Schwartz temporarily stepped down from his position. Dr. Schwartz was never reinstated as Director. In February 2008, he formally tendered his resignation. In April 2008, NIH’s Office of Management Assessment released a review of NIEHS management which documented numerous problems with the institute’s programs and procedures and suggested recommendations for reform.