Eight inspectors general whom Donald Trump fired from their federal agency watchdog posts are suing for their jobs back, adding to the legal scrutiny over the president’s first weeks of decisions in the White House and raising questions about his political intentions.
They argue that Trump should not have been able to dismiss them in late January without first notifying Congress. They also claim that the White House disregarded regulations surrounding their removals that were designed to shield them from political interference and retaliation.
The lawsuit, filed in Washington, DC’s federal court on Wednesday, asserts that the Trump administration’s actions have undermined the critical oversight principles of transparency, truth-telling without bias, and adherence to the rule of law.
This lawsuit is part of a wave of legal challenges against the swift executive actions taken by the Trump administration. Many of these lawsuits, including the one filed on Wednesday, allege that the White House is encroaching on Congress's authority. The case of the inspector generals adds to the mounting opposition from government employees who have been ousted from their roles, particularly those in independent or non-political capacities.
These dismissals also cast doubt on Trump and temporary government adviser Elon Musk’s confrontational stance towards established federal corruption watchdogs. This comes at a time when Trump and Musk are dismantling certain government functions, citing a desire to combat corruption as one of the reasons for their actions.
