GOP Judiciary Committee Chair Grassley Joins Democrat in Letter Protesting Firing of Inspectors General

(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) joined Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL) in sending a letter to President Donald Trump demanding an explanation for his firing of most federal inspectors general.

The Trump administration summarily terminated the employment of the watchdogs across various executive agencies on Friday night, raising legal questions over whether he had complied with a law requiring that Congress be given 30 days’ notice before IGs are fired.

On Tuesday, Grassley and Durbin articulated their objections to Trump’s actions in a stern letter demanding immediate remedial action.

“We write to you today concerning the reported firing of Inspectors General (IGs) from 18 offices. Congress was not provided the legally required 30-day notice and case specific reasons for removal, as required by law. Accordingly, we request that you provide that information immediately,” they began, adding:

While IGs aren’t immune from committing acts requiring their removal, and they can be removed by the president, the law must be followed. The communications to Congress must contain more than just broad and vague statements, rather it must include sufficient facts and details to assure Congress and the public that the termination is due to real concerns about the Inspector General’s ability to carry out their mission.

This is a matter of public and congressional accountability and ensuring the public’s confidence in the Inspector General community, a sentiment shared more broadly by other Members of Congress. IGs are critical to rooting out waste, fraud, abuse, and misconduct within the Executive Branch bureaucracy, which you have publicly made clear you are also intent on doing.

Accordingly, we request that you provide Congress with a written communication that contains the “substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons” for each of the IG’s [sic] removed. Further, we request the name of each official that will serve in an acting capacity and that you work quickly to nominate qualified and non-partisan individuals to serve in these open positions.”

Read the full letter here.