President Donald Trump has taken action to remove the head of the Office of Government Ethics, as confirmed by the agency on Monday. The agency's director, who had been nominated by Former President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in a post-election session, was notified of his removal via email from the Presidential Personnel Office on a Friday night.
In an interview, the former director expressed his surprise at the sudden decision, stating that he was unaware of any specific reason for his removal. He suggested that the president may not want independent voices, such as the OGE, to address raised concerns.
Having served in the federal government for 19 years, the former director described his removal as 'disappointing' and noted the lack of explanation or notice provided. OGE directors typically serve 5-year terms to reduce partisanship and overlap administrations.
The agency has updated its website to reflect the change, stating that an Acting Director will now lead the OGE. Source has reached out to the White House for comment on this development.
