Fox News host Shannon Bream confronted Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, on Sunday with GOP concerns about President Donald Trump‘s decision to fire several inspectors general.
Newsweek has reached out to Cotton’s office and the White House via email for comment on Sunday.
Why It Matters
Inspectors general are independent officials within federal agencies who investigate claims of waste, fraud and abuse of power. They conduct audits, evaluations, and special reviews, among other responsibilities.
Trump’s decision to fire several inspectors general on Friday has since faced backlash as legal analysts argue the dismissals appear to be in violation of federal law, which requires Congress to receive reasons for the termination of a Senate-confirmed inspector general 30 days in advance. However, not all legal analysts agree it’s a violation.
The removal and potential appointment of new inspectors general reflect a shift in leadership and raise concerns about the independence of key oversight positions under the Trump administration.
What To Know
A source familiar with the situation confirmed to Newsweek on Saturday that some inspectors general have been fired.
Prior to the termination, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) reported there were 74 federal inspector generals. The council’s website states: “The President nominates IGs at Cabinet-level departments and major agencies with Senate confirmation. These IGs can only be removed by the President. The agency heads appoint and can remove IGs at designated Federal entities. Both houses of Congress must be notified if an IG is removed by the President or an agency head.”
However, since then some have raised concerns over the legality of the move.
In a Sunday interview with Fox News, Bream confronted Cotton with GOP concerns about the firing of the inspectors general and said, “I’ve heard from some of your GOP colleagues who are concerned about this saying it didn’t give the proper notification even if ultimately it would be, the notice wasn’t there and as President Trump signaling he’s just going to observe which laws he wants to and not others.”
Cotton responded: “Time and time again the Supreme Court has said that Congress can’t impose restrictions on the president’s power to remove officers…Ultimately these inspectors general serve at the pleasure of the president. He wants new people in there, he wants people focused on getting out waste, fraud and abuse and reforming these agencies.”
When asked by Bream if Trump will fill these inspectors general positions, Cotton said he believes so, adding that “maybe he won’t fill them immediately because there’s an entire administration to staff and he may have other priorities.”
Legal analysts have pushed back on the decision, citing concerns that there was not a 30-day notice to Congress.
It comes after the Post reported that inspectors general were notified of their immediate termination via email by the White House personnel director.
In a letter dated January 24 to Sergio Gor, head of the presidential personnel office, chairman of the CIGIE, Hannibal ‘Mike’ Ware, wrote: “At this point, we do not believe the actions taken are legally sufficient to dismiss Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed Inspectors General.”
The letter cites the 2022 amendments to the Inspector General Act of 1978, which states that the president must notify Congress 30 days prior to removing inspectors general.
According to NBC News, Ware was among those fired. In addition, The Washington Post reported most of the dismissals were officials who had been appointed during Trump’s first presidential term.
The firings are similar to what Trump did in 2020 when he dismissed five inspectors general from their roles.
During an appearance on NBC News’ Meet the Press on Sunday, Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, told NBC News’ Kristen Welker that Trump “technically” violated the law when Welker asked: “The law says he’s supposed to give them 30 days’ notice. He didn’t do that. Do you think he violated the law?”
“Well, technically yeah, but he has the authority to do it. I’m not losing a whole lot of sleep that he wants to change the personnel out. I just want to make sure that he gets off to a good start, I think he has. I’m very supportive of what he wants to do with America,” the senator responded.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump told reporters Saturday evening about the firings: “I did it because it’s a very common thing to do. Some people thought that some were unfair or were not doing the job. It’s a very standard thing to do…”
Tristan Snell, a lawyer who helped lead the prosecution of Trump regarding Trump University, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, Saturday morning: “Trump fires 17 inspectors general – all the internal govt enforcement officials for every major government agency and department This was ILLEGAL – firing an IG requires 30 day notice to Congress. CONGRESS MUST ACT TO REINSTATE THEM, NOW.”
Barbara McQuade, MSNBC legal analyst and former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan under the Barack Obama administration, wrote in a Saturday morning X post: “Trump has fired 12 inspectors general without providing the 30-day notice to Congress required by law. He really is pushing the legal limits of his power and daring Congress to stop him.”
John Choon Yoo, a law professor at University of California at Berkeley, previously told Newsweek in an email on Saturday: “President Trump is well within his power to remove members of the executive branch at will. In Seila Law v. CFPB (2020), the Supreme Court held that Congress could not protect officers of the United States from removal by the President…In Seila Law, the Court said that the only officers that Congress might be able to protect are those that are members of multi-body commissions, like the FCC or the SEC.”
He added: “The Inspectors General do not have that status; they are simple members of the executive branch agencies. Even if Congress attempts to place conditions on their removal, those conditions are unconstitutional. Any Inspector General that attempts to challenge their removal in court—they would still have to leave office and just sue for back pay—will be wasting their money in lawyers fees.”
Sidney Powell, Trump’s former lawyer, wrote early Saturday on X: “Existing IGs are virtually worthless. They may bring a few minor things to light but accomplish next to nothing. The whole system needs to be revamped. They are toothless and protect the institution instead of the citizens.”
What Happens Next
It is unclear which inspectors general were terminated and if their roles will be filled. Neither the White House nor Trump have released an official statement.
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