Conservative activists are targeting Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) over allegations of a pay-to-play arrangement involving his wife, Sandra Whitehouse, and lucrative federal funding tied to her environmental nonprofit. The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), a right-leaning ethics watchdog, has flagged a potential conflict of interest involving Whitehouse, his wife, and her organization, Ocean Conservancy.
According to FACT, Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit that Sandra Whitehouse has been heavily involved with, has received over $12.2 million in federal grants since 2008. Much of this funding comes from legislation that Whitehouse himself has helped pass, particularly funding tied to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which he voted for. Last year alone, Ocean Conservancy received $5.2 million in federal grants for ocean debris cleanup, coming from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
BOMBSHELL: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) backed legislation that funneled millions to his wife’s environmental nonprofit, Ocean Conservancy.
She’s been paid nearly $2.7M while the group raked in $14.2M+ in federal grants—funded by bills Whitehouse voted for!
Now, an ethics… pic.twitter.com/hw7KmNc4Dz
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 25, 2025
Whitehouse, a long-time member of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, has been an advocate for environmental policies, especially those related to ocean preservation and climate change. His close ties to Ocean Conservancy and his support for legislation benefiting the organization have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest. As the co-founder of the Senate’s “Oceans Caucus,” Whitehouse has long championed the types of issues that his wife’s nonprofit lobbies for, making the situation even more suspect.
FACT Executive Director Kendra Arnold has called the situation “egregious,” highlighting that Ocean Conservancy has spent millions on federal lobbying efforts, particularly on issues that align directly with Whitehouse’s legislative work. Given that Sandra Whitehouse has been compensated nearly $2.7 million by Ocean Conservancy since 2010, it appears the family may have a financial stake in the very policies they are pushing.
While Ocean Conservancy has defended Sandra Whitehouse’s work, stating that she was not compensated directly from the federal grants, the appearance of impropriety remains. Critics argue that the connection between the nonprofit and Whitehouse’s legislative efforts undermines the integrity of both the senator’s actions and the nonprofit’s claims of independence.
Senator Whitehouse’s office has yet to comment on the allegations, but the issue is gaining traction, particularly with the ongoing scrutiny over possible ethical violations in Washington. With pressure mounting, some are calling for a full investigation into whether Whitehouse has violated Senate ethics rules regarding conflicts of interest. As the debate continues, the question remains: just how deep do the connections go between the Whitehouses and the millions in taxpayer dollars flowing to Ocean Conservancy?
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