patrick.net

Late last night, Trump unleashed pink-slip-Hades on 17 federal Inspectors General. The Washington Post reported the story headlined, “Trump ousts at least 12 independent inspectors general in late-night purge.” He fired 17 IGs assigned to 12 different agencies. WaPo thinks Trump broke the law and insulted Congress. The sub-headline said, “The dismissals appeared to violate federal law, which requires Congress to receive 30 days’ notice of any intent to fire a Senate-confirmed inspector general.”

In general, IGs are confirmed by the Senate, assigned to various agencies, and are tasked with identifying fraud, waste, and abuse, and with recommending how to make the government more efficient. There are 74 IGs in total. According to the WaPo, IGs are “nonpartisan, just like all federal employees.”

Like dozens of NSC staffers the day before, the 17 now-former IGs were fired last night, by email, effective immediately. Don’t bother coming back to the office.

Many conservatives feel the IGs have been mostly useless, since they did nothing effective to prevent or even disclose the worst excesses of the Biden Administration. Now, I’m only guessing, but it seems to me that the IGs could play a very useful role in any DOGE project designed to increase government efficiency, which is the IGs’ mission anyway. Just speculating.

If Trump did break the 30-day prior notice requirement, it’s not clear what anyone can do about it, or what effect it might have, apart from annoying Congress. But again, this was the act of a totally confident President unconcerned about how Congress might react, because he is fully in command of his party.

Don’t take all this for granted. Trump did not enjoy this kind of loyalty and discipline among Congressional Republicans during his first term. And there are still some Never-Trumpers around.

Ed Martin - yes, the STOP THE STEAL organizer - is now DC's acting US attorney.