American Oversight Opens Investigation into Mass Firings of Inspectors General by Trump Administration
American Oversight filed FOIA requests with 14 major federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, State, and Labor.
On Monday, American Oversight filed multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, demanding any communication that would shed light on what, if any, notice was given to Congress—as required by law—on the firing of over a dozen Senate-confirmed, independent Inspectors General from at least 14 major federal agencies. The FOIA requests also seek any communication between the agency heads and the Trump transition team, the White House, or Congress.
Late on Friday, Jan. 24, President Trump’s White House personnel director notified the Inspectors General that they had been terminated, effective immediately, without proper notice to Congress. Under the Inspector General Act of 1978, Congress must receive a 30-day notice before an Inspector General is dismissed. The law was amended in 2022 to, among other things, require substantive explanation, including case-specific reasons for the removal or transfer of an Inspector General.
“Inspectors General are vital to safeguarding the integrity and accountability of government programs that impact millions of lives and save taxpayers billions annually. Undermining their independence removes critical protections against abuse and inefficiency that will have real-world consequences,” said American Oversight Deputy Executive Director Liz Hempowicz. “By abruptly firing over a dozen independent watchdogs without the required notice to Congress, President Trump has brazenly violated federal law and attacked the very systems leading to accountability in the federal government. We plan to uncover the facts so the public and lawmakers can hold the administration responsible for these abuses of power.”
American Oversight submitted FOIA requests to the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, the Interior, State, the Treasury, Veterans Affairs, and Transportation, as well as to the Environmental Protection Agency, Small Business Administration, and Social Security Administration. The FOIA requests are available here.
American Oversight played a key role in holding the Trump administration accountable during the president’s first term. Using public records backed by aggressive litigation, American Oversight uncovered extensive evidence of corruption, conflicts of interest, and abuses of power throughout the administration. American Oversight will continue to hold Trump and his allies accountable by shining a light on the actions of the administration.