Press Releases

Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, led 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 the 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 signed by: Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rep. Nydia Velazquez, Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business; Rep. Rick Larsen, Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; Rep. Bobby Scott, Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Workforce; Rep. Jim McGovern, Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules; Rep. Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services; Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary; Rep. Angie Craig, Ranking Member of the Committee on Agriculture; Rep. Mark Takano, Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; Rep. Joe Morelle, Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration; Rep. Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services; Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security; Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations; Rep. Brendan Boyle, Ranking Member of the Committee on the Budget; Rep. Richard Neal, Ranking Member of the Committee on Ways and Means, Rep. Jared Huffman, Ranking Member of the Committee on Natural Resources; Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce; Rep. Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; and Rep. Don Beyer, Senior House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee.

Click here to read the full letter.