Senate subcommittee presses US Center for SafeSport on closures, backlogs and funding

Chair Senator Hickenlooper opened the subcommittee hearing on athlete safety and described Congress’s role after revelations in USA Gymnastics. He introduced witnesses and said the session would examine how to ensure athletes can train and compete free from abuse.

Jurece Colon, CEO of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, told the subcommittee the center has driven a major increase in reporting since it opened, noting the office received roughly 300 reports in its first year, 7,500 last year and ‘‘more than 25,000 reports’’ to date. Colon acknowledged problems with timeliness and communication and described a nine-month, top-to-bottom review that produced operational changes: staff realignment, tighter rules on administrative closures, trauma-sensitivity training, greater data collection and enhanced audits of national governing bodies (NGBs). She said the center typically declines jurisdiction of many emotional and physical-abuse matters back to NGBs but keeps cases that present conflicts or are particularly egregious.

Dionne Koehler, co-chair of the bipartisan Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics, said the commission’s report — based on tens of thousands of documents, surveys and interviews — recommends systemic reforms, not piecemeal fixes. The commission’s top recommendation, Koehler testified, is to ‘‘delink’’ SafeSport’s funding from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and move to a model like the U.S. Anti‑Doping Agency with direct congressional appropriations; the report also calls for independent athlete representation and stronger public oversight.

Grace French, a survivor and founder of the Army of Survivors, recounted abuse she endured and told senators that many survivors experience retraumatization within SafeSport’s process. French said survivors report lengthy investigations, opaque administrative closures and limited access to trauma-informed supports. She urged independent victim advocates (not employed by the center), greater transparency about case status to the extent allowed by law, and adoption of trauma‑informed investigation and appeals practices.

Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey and co‑chair of the NGB Council, affirmed the NGBs’ support for SafeSport’s mission while urging changes to improve operational effectiveness: clearer jurisdictional lines, fewer administrative closures without merits determinations, better communication with NGBs and federal funding and oversight of the center. Kelleher highlighted that NGBs vary widely in size and capacity; some are small and lack capacity to absorb large volumes of cases.

During questioning, senators pressed witnesses on the center’s jurisdiction and the frequency of ‘‘administrative closures.’’ Senator Cruz cited preliminary staff analysis and said the center ‘‘administratively closed 4 out of every 5 misconduct cases where it found jurisdiction,’’ and raised concerns that administrative closures can prevent NGBs from pursuing parallel remedies. Colon acknowledged administrative closures and said part of the center’s reforms is to redefine the use of administrative closure and set maximum time frames for resolution.

Senators also focused on timeliness. Members noted backlogs and cited examples of long‑open matters; Colon said some high volume and lower‑severity matters can extend timelines and that additional investigators and technology investments would improve throughput. She said the center is averaging ‘‘about 184 cases a week’’ and that resource increases would be used to add investigators and streamline processes.

On victims’ experience, Grace French and others urged trauma‑informed communications, improved access to mental‑health supports, and an independent victim‑advocate role to reduce retraumatization during appeals. Koehler recommended broader reforms beyond SafeSport — including ending the USOPC’s ‘‘dual mandate’’ and creating an independent athlete commission — to address structural contributors to athlete vulnerability.

On funding, witnesses discussed the need for more federal dollars and a funding model that enhances perceived independence; the commission suggested a USADA‑style appropriation model. Colon said the center has a reserve to cover an expected deficit and has used funding to hire staff, but added that money alone will not solve cultural and systemic problems without complementary reforms.

No formal votes or statutory actions occurred at the hearing. Chair Hickenlooper closed by leaving the record open for two weeks for questions for the record (due April 3, 2024) and requested witnesses return written responses by April 17.

Why it matters: Senators, survivors and institutional leaders agreed SafeSport’s creation represented progress but said the center currently faces serious operational and cultural challenges — including case backlogs, inconsistent communication with claimants and NGBs, and perceptions among survivors that the process can retraumatize. Witnesses urged a mix of immediate process reforms (timeliness targets, trauma‑informed practices, clearer communication) and larger structural changes (funding delinked from USOPC, independent athlete representation) to restore trust and accountability.

Next steps: The committee will accept written questions for the record and may pursue legislative or oversight options based on witness responses and the commission’s recommendations.