Trump fires all 3 Democrats on privacy oversight board

President Trump on Monday fired all three Democrats on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), bringing much of its work to a standstill.

The move guts a board designed to ensure the government's work to fight terrorism is balanced with protections for civil liberties.

The White House informed the three Democrats on the board on Thursday it was seeking their resignation, but the members were officially terminated Monday.

It’s an action that removes some voices on the panel critical of some foreign surveillance actions — a detail that often had them aligned with right-wing Republicans who wish to curtail such programs.

It also stands to diminish oversight of the intelligence community.

PCLOB confirmed the dismissals and indicated it would need new members to continue its work.

“The White House terminated Chair Sharon Bradford Franklin, and Members Ed Felten and Travis LeBlanc from their positions as of 5 p.m. last Thursday. The agency, however, has significant ability to continue functioning with its full staff and remaining Member Beth Williams to continue the Board's important mission, including its advice and oversight functions, and its current projects,” PCLOB spokesperson Alan Silverleib said in a statement.

"The Board looks forward to moving ahead on additional projects formally following the nomination, confirmation, and appointment of new Members.”

While the control of the board shifts to reflect the party of the president, PCLOB should still have two Democratic members.

The board's Democratic members in 2023 released a report critical of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows for warrantless spying on foreigners located abroad.

While that reflected a partisan divide on the board, the move left the panel’s Democrats aligned with right-leaning congressional Republicans and other privacy-minded lawmakers who have advocated for adding a warrant provision before reviewing any information incidentally collected on Americans.

LeBlanc on Monday said the trio of firings spelled bad news for those invested in privacy concerns and oversight of the intelligence community.

“The Board’s independence is crucial to ensuring that the President, Congress, and the public receive honest, expert, and complete information about the nation’s most highly classified programs and activities,” he said in a statement.

“Today, I regret that the Board’s partisan shift will ultimately undermine not only the mission of the agency, but public trust and confidence in the ability of the government to honor privacy rights, respect civil liberties, honestly inform the public, and follow the law. Oversight is tough work, but it is absolutely essential to accountability in a democracy.”

Topics

Trump 'unleashed chaos’ with federal funding freeze, says top Oversight Committee Democrat

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) joins Meet the Press NOW to react to the uncertainty and confusion about the Trump administration’s memo temporarily pausing federal funding.
NBC News - 1d
Ousted IG: Trump firings 'a potentially existential threat' to government oversight

One of 17 government watchdogs ousted by President Trump said that the move was “a potentially existential threat” to a crucial government oversight tool. “I view it as a potentially existential ...
The Hill - 1d
Trump fires senior labor board official in ‘unprecedented and illegal’ move

Gwynne Wilcox pledges to challenge decision after dismissal in effect paralyzes National Labor Relations Board. US politics live – latest updates Donald Trump has fired a senior official at ...
The Guardian - 1d
Trump IG firings leave in doubt future of oversight

President Trump’s mass firing of 17 inspectors general late Friday flouted the law and sparked widespread condemnation from those who see it as an effort to block oversight of his administration. ...
The Hill - 1d
Democrats push for inaugural oversight as Trump committee rakes in cash

Senate Democrats are pushing for more transparency from presidential inaugural committees, as a wave of cash from corporations and their billionaire leaders floods Washington, D.C., before ...
NBC News - Jan. 17
Democrats push for inaugural oversight as Trump committee rakes in cash

Trump's second inaugural committee has reportedly raked in $170 million and is on track to end up with around $200 million.
CNBC - Jan. 17
It All Started With a Ouija Board

Laura Acker and Evan Menscher met last spring after, she believes, her father’s spirit led her to him.
The New York Times - Jan. 10
Huge problems with axing fact-checkers, Meta oversight board says

The body's co-chair says moving to community notes could have a big impact on gender rights and minority groups.
BBC News - Jan. 8

More from The Hill

Hegseth touts Guantánamo Bay as 'perfect spot' to house migrants

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Guantánamo Bay is the “perfect spot” to house deported migrants, after President Trump signed a memo Wednesday ordering a facility there be prepared for that ...
The Hill - 4h
Vance lauds Trump’s second term approach: ‘All gas, no brakes’

Vice President Vance praised President Trump’s approach to his second term, touting the quick and broad actions of the new administration as well as the stamina of the president compared to his ...
The Hill - 5h
Watch: Local authorities respond to airplane collision near Reagan National Airport

A regional jet and helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport shortly before 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday evening. The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) said that a PSA Airlines regional jet, ...
The Hill - 5h
Regional jet carrying 64, military helicopter on training flight collide near Reagan National Airport

A regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a military helicopter on Wednesday night as it approached Reagan National Airport. The flight was en route from Wichita, ...
The Hill - 5h
Zuckerberg hails Trump administration on Meta earnings call

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday praised President Trump’s administration and said he looks forward to “redefining” the relationship the tech giant has with governments. “This is also going to ...
The Hill - 6h