During a Senate Budget Committee markup, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley addressed President Donald Trump's firing of inspector generals without adhering to legal requirements. Grassley, known for emphasizing the importance of inspector generals, expressed concern over the lack of adherence to the law that mandates a 30-day heads up to Congress before such dismissals.
Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen proposed an amendment focused on funding for inspector generals, prompting Grassley to discuss Trump's abrupt removal of these officials. Grassley emphasized that while the President has the authority to dismiss inspector generals, it should be done in accordance with legal obligations.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn also acknowledged the significance of inspector generals, mentioning that the Senate Foreign Relations committee intends to address the recent firing of the US Agency for International Development inspector general. Cornyn emphasized the importance of the administration providing rationale for such dismissals to Congress.
Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff criticized the Trump administration's actions, stating that the firings are a clear violation of the law. Schiff highlighted the role of inspector generals in combating waste, fraud, and abuse, warning that eliminating them could lead to increased corruption within the administration.
The discussions in the Senate underscore the ongoing scrutiny over the removal of inspector generals and the need for transparency and adherence to legal requirements in such decisions.
