Senate Dems ask for Homeland Security hearing over inspectors general firing
Senate Democrats asked for a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing over the recent inspectors general firings by President Trump, in a letter Wednesday.
“President Trump's sudden removal of 18 Inspectors General on January 25, 2025 and removal of the Inspector General for the U.S. Agency for International Development on February 11, 2025, was a clear violation of federal law and poses an existential threat to the federal government's ability to conduct independent oversight,” according to the letter, which was addressed to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the chair of the committee.
The letter is signed by Democratic Sens. Adam Schiff (Calif.), Ben Ray Luján (N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Tim Kaine (Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) and Ron Wyden (Ore.).
"Congress has a vested interest in ensuring that Inspectors General are protected from political interference and remain trusted, nonpartisan, and accountable watchdogs of the federal government," the senators wrote.
Last month, more than a dozen inspectors general were ousted by the president. Departments affected by the firings included the Defense Department, the State Department, Energy Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Department of Veterans Affairs.
On Tuesday, the inspector general for the U.S. Agency for International Development was booted by the Trump White House shortly after a report critical of the foreign assistance freeze was issued.
“These unprecedented terminations put at grave risk the independence of traditionally nonpartisan Inspectors General and contravened statutory requirements that Presidents must notify Congress prior to an Inspector General's removal and provide a substantive rationale,” the Democrats said in their letter.
The Hill has reached out to the office of Paul and the White House for comment.
-
Inspectors general fired by Trump sue his administration
Eight fired inspectors general are suing the Trump administration over what they are calling "unlawful and unjustified" termination. Meanwhile, in her first press conference as attorney general, ...CBS News - 6h -
Inspectors general fired by Trump file lawsuit to get their jobs back
Eight inspectors general who were fired by Donald Trump are suing the federal government over what they allege are "unlawful and unjustified purported termination[s]."ABC News - 6h -
Fired inspectors general sue Trump over their 'unlawful' termination
Eight inspectors general who were fired by Trump filed a lawsuit Wednesday charging their terminations were unlawful and seeking their immediate reinstatement.NBC News - 12h -
8 inspectors general fired by Trump file lawsuit challenging dismissals
A group of eight former internal government watchdogs who were fired by President Trump filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging their terminations.CBS News - 14h -
Trump fires USAID inspector general as federal shake-up continues
The Trump administration continued its campaign to shake-up the federal government with the firing of the USAID inspector general, a day after USAID released a report detailing the negative impact ...NBC News - 16h -
White House fires USAid inspector general who issued damning report on Trump’s funding freeze – live
Paul Martin reportedly dismissed one day after damning report detailing impact of sudden dismantling of agency. Donald Trump announced he is dispatching Treasury secretary Scott Bessent to ...The Guardian - 1d -
White House fires USAID inspector general following critical report
President Trump’s White House fired the inspector general for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday, a day after the watchdog office issued a report that was critical of ...The Hill - 1d -
President Trump fires inspector general of USAID
President Trump officially fired the inspector general at the U.S. Agency for International Development a day after his office released a report detailing the negative impact of the Trump ...NBC News - 1d -
Trump fires USAID's inspector general after his office released a report critical of the administration
Paul Martin's office put out a report Monday detailing the negative impact of the Trump administration’s push for drastic cuts at the agency.NBC News - 1d
More from The Hill
-
Chevron to lay off up to 20 percent of its workforce
Chevron plans to lay off up to 20 percent of its workforce, according to a company spokesperson. Vice Chairman of the Chevron Corp., Mark Nelson, said that the company "is taking action to simplify ...The Hill - 3h -
OPM: 75,000 workers took Trump, Musk government buyout
Roughly 75,000 federal workers across government have accepted a buyout offer, taking an unusual deal spearheaded by the Trump administration as it looks to reduce the federal workforce. A senior ...The Hill - 3h -
Judge temporarily reinstates head of whistleblower office fired by Trump
A federal judge late Wednesday agreed to a temporary restraining order blocking President Trump from firing the head of the Office of the Special Counsel, keeping a key protector of whistleblowers ...The Hill - 4h -
House GOP budget resolution hangs in the balance as hardliners hold out support
The House GOP’s budget resolution is hanging in the balance as a handful of hardliners withhold support for the measure, setting the stage for a high-stakes committee vote on Thursday. At least six ...The Hill - 4h -
Sanders sounds alarm over Musk acting 'in a sense, illegally'
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said on Wednesday he thinks all Americans should be concerned that tech billionaire Elon Musk is acting “in a sense, illegally, unconstitutionally.” In a brief interview ...The Hill - 5h
More in Politics
-
Chevron to lay off up to 20 percent of its workforce
Chevron plans to lay off up to 20 percent of its workforce, according to a company spokesperson. Vice Chairman of the Chevron Corp., Mark Nelson, said that the company "is taking action to simplify ...The Hill - 3h -
Sen. McConnell's health concerns raise questions over ability to serve
The recent concerns over the health of Republican Senator Mitch McConnell are reigniting debate about when it's time for lawmakers to step aside. NBC News' Ryan Nobles has more on the concerns.NBC News - 3h -
OPM: 75,000 workers took Trump, Musk government buyout
Roughly 75,000 federal workers across government have accepted a buyout offer, taking an unusual deal spearheaded by the Trump administration as it looks to reduce the federal workforce. A senior ...The Hill - 3h -
Judge temporarily reinstates head of whistleblower office fired by Trump
A federal judge late Wednesday agreed to a temporary restraining order blocking President Trump from firing the head of the Office of the Special Counsel, keeping a key protector of whistleblowers ...The Hill - 4h -
House GOP budget resolution hangs in the balance as hardliners hold out support
The House GOP’s budget resolution is hanging in the balance as a handful of hardliners withhold support for the measure, setting the stage for a high-stakes committee vote on Thursday. At least six ...The Hill - 4h