House Government Oversight Committee chairman Darrell Issa announced the subpoena in a tweet, saying he requires that Kerry testify on May 21.
"It is because the State Department has failed to meet its legal obligations that I have issued a subpoena to Secretary Kerry," Issa wrote.
The move comes after a conservative group on Wednesday published a White House email it had obtained via a legal challenge and which critics said shows an attempt to put a political spin on the assault.
It has since become clear that the attack on the mission, which cost the lives of four Americans, including ambassador Chris Stevens, was planned by armed militants.
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Republicans including Issa, House Speaker John Boehner and Senator Lindsey Graham have argued that the White House misled Americans about what happened, particularly in the weeks after the attack, which occurred at the height of the US presidential race won by incumbent Barack Obama.
"The State Department is not entitled to delay responsive materials because it is embarrassing or implicates senior officials," Issa wrote.
The White House yesterday dismissed Republican pressure on the issue, saying critics were seeking to "politicise a tragedy" and uncover a conspiracy where none existed.