Rebuking Late Night Purge of Inspectors General, House Democratic Ranking Members Demand President Trump Comply with the Law

Rebuking Late Night Purge of Inspectors General, House Democratic Ranking Members Demand President Trump Comply with the Law

Ranking Members Rebuke Trump's Unlawful Attempt to Purge Independent Government Watchdogs Who Serve to Protect Taxpayers' Interests and Hold Government Accountable

WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce joined Ranking Member Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and other House Committee Ranking Members in a letter to President Donald Trump condemning his attempted late-night purge of at least 12 independent inspectors general, which appears to have violated federal law designed to protect their work from political interference and intimidation.

The Ranking Members wrote: "We write to express our grave concern about your recent attempt to unlawfully and arbitrarily remove more than a dozen independent, nonpartisan inspectors general without notice to Congress or the public and in the dead of night. Your actions violate the law, attack our democracy, and undermine the safety of the American people."

Late on Friday night, President Trump tried to brazenly terminate more than a dozen inspectors general via an email citing "changing priorities," without sending notice to lawmakers or the public. The sweeping purge violates the legal requirements for lawful removal, which requires the president to notify Congress 30 days prior to removal of an inspector general and provide "substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons" for such removal. The email terminating at least a dozen government watchdogs failed to provide any legitimate rationale for their firing, as required by law.

Inspectors general play a critical role as nonpartisan federal watchdogs that serve as a check on federal government power and work to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in the government. President Trump's illegal actions will raise the cost of government and make the United States less safe.

Inspectors General are designed to operate free from political interference and be shielded from partisan pressures and therefore be empowered to protect taxpayers' interests and hold federal agencies accountable to the people. If Republicans were truly committed to a government free of waste, fraud, and abuse they would hold President Trump accountable and demand that he recants his unlawful action.

"Firing inspectors general without due cause is antithetical to good government, undermines the proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and degrades the federal government's ability to function effectively and efficiently. We urge you to withdraw your unlawful action and comply with your obligations to the American people," concluded the Ranking Members.

The letter is also signed by: Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rep. Angie Craig, Ranking Member of the Committee on Agriculture; Rep. Nydia Velazquez, Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business; Rep. Mark Takano, Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs; Rep. Joe Morelle, Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration; Rep. Jim McGovern, Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules; Rep. Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services; Rep. Jared Huffman, Ranking Member of the Committee on Natural Resources; Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations; Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary; Rep. Brendan Boyle, Ranking Member of the Committee on the Budget; Rep. Frank Pallone, Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce; Rep. Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; Rep. Richard Neal, Ranking Member of the Committee on Ways and Means, and Rep. Rick Larson, Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

To read full letter, click here.

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