The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) has formally requested the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to investigate Senator Sheldon Whitehouse regarding possible conflicts of interest. The concern arises from Senator Whitehouse’s legislative support for bills that resulted in substantial federal grants to Ocean Conservancy, an environmental organization employing his wife, Sandra Whitehouse.
Sandra Whitehouse has been affiliated with Ocean Conservancy since 2008, initially as a Senior Policy Adviser and later through her consulting firm, Ocean Wonks LLC, established in 2017. Since 2008, Ocean Conservancy has received over $14.2 million in federal grants. Notably, in 2024, the organization was awarded a $5.2 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for marine debris cleanup, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and a $1.7 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for similar purposes. Senator Whitehouse voted in favor of both legislative measures facilitating these grants.
FACT’s Executive Director, Kendra Arnold, emphasized the potential conflict, stating that Senator Whitehouse’s legislative actions directly benefited an organization that compensates his spouse. Ocean Conservancy has reportedly spent millions on federal lobbying efforts concerning ocean and climate-related issues, areas actively supported by Senator Whitehouse, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and co-founder of the Senate Oceans Caucus.
Tax records indicate that since 2010, Sandra Whitehouse has received approximately $2.7 million from Ocean Conservancy, either directly or through her consulting firm. In response to the allegations, Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President of External Affairs, Jeff Watters, clarified that Dr. Sandra Whitehouse has not received compensation from the federal grants awarded to the organization.
As of now, Senator Whitehouse has not publicly commented on the matter. The Senate Select Committee on Ethics has yet to announce whether it will initiate a formal investigation into the potential conflict of interest.