Duckworth Introduces Bill to Maintain Integrity of Independent Government Watchdogs

Duckworth Introduces Bill to Maintain Integrity of Independent Government Watchdogs

The Senator's legislation aims to restore public confidence in Inspectors General after Trump unlawfully fired 17 IGs without justification-many of whom served honorably across Administrations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - One year after Donald Trump unlawfully fired 17 Inspectors General (IGs) just days into his second term, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation to help restore public trust in IGs as Trump has worked to replace them with loyalists tied to his Administration. The Inspectors General Independence Act would prevent Donald Trump and future Presidents from appointing their own political allies to serve in the Administration's "independent" watchdog roles-a clear conflict of interest that undermines their responsibility to root out government waste, fraud and abuse within the Executive Branch.

"In the aftermath of the heinous Watergate scandal, Congress established Inspectors General as non-partisan and independent investigators with important oversight responsibilities to help ensure any Administration, whether Democrat or Republican, complies with the law-but under Trump, that crucial check and balance is being eroded," said Senator Duckworth. "Inspectors General must be trusted to hold federal agencies accountable and protect American taxpayers-not simply serve at the whim of the President who appointed them. Our legislation would help restore trust by ensuring these watchdogs remain independent from any Administration's political agenda."

Inspectors General are federal watchdogs tasked with rooting out waste, fraud and abuse while ensuring agencies follow the law and use taxpayer dollars responsibly. Congress designed these offices to provide impartial and nonpartisan oversight, no matter which party controls the White House.

The Inspectors General Independence Act would bar Presidents from nominating their own political appointees as Inspectors General to help keep these watchdogs independent and free from conflicts of interest that would compromise the integrity of their investigations, audits and oversight of the Administration.

In addition to Duckworth, this legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Peter Welch (D-VT).

The full text of the bill is available on Senator Duckworth's website.

One of the clearest examples of how Inspectors General's impartiality and independence was undermined came when President Trump appointed Cheryl Mason-formerly Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under the current Administration-as VA Inspector General after removing her predecessor without cause. Assigning a political appointee to oversee policies they helped create undermines both impartial oversight and public trust.

Duckworth raised concerns about Mason's commitment to the rule of law, noting she refused to acknowledge that her nomination was only possible because her predecessor had been unlawfully removed.

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