It appears the Trump transition team did reach out to all IGs to let them know that they would be fired, which is a departure from the bipartisan tradition of letting IGs stay on as long as they want.
These are the independent watchdogs of our federal agencies.
On Jan., 19th, WaPo reported that phone calls were made from the transition team to IGs involved in Cabinet departments to tell them their services would no longer be required.
Obviously this caused a tremendous amount of anxiety from many IGs, so a more senior official called to confirm that their jobs were safe.
Today the Washington Post reports that "an email from the Trump transition team on the evening of Jan. 13 instructed all transition team leaders to “reach out tonight and inform” the inspectors general in their agencies “that they are being held over on a temporary basis.”
The email shows proof that there was a serious effort by the Trump team to replace all the IGs across the board.
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md) blasted this incident, but as usual, Rep. Jason Chaffetz provided the armor shielding for the Trump administration.
"House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) said that the White House had told him the phone calls to inspectors general were a “mistake” and the work of a “junior person.” The inspectors general were later told to disregard the initial calls.
“I want to let you know that I’ve spoken with the general counsel at the White House on this topic,” Chaffetz said. “I think it’s safe to say that was a mistake, they wish it hadn’t happened, it’s not their approach, it’s not their intention.”
He added, “With each new administration, I’m sure there’s a learning curve, and hopefully they’ve learned that lesson.”
Firing the federal watchdogs and replacing them with loyal Trump supporters seems like a way to hide as much hinky activity as possible.
Ranking Democratic members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sent a letter demanding that Trump's team make the person known who approved of these decisions.
“We believe that attacks on our nation’s Inspectors General are attacks on our taxpayers and their ability to hold their government accountable.”
“For these reasons, we ask that you identify the Trump Transition Team official who originally approved the decision to execute these coordinated calls to the Inspectors General.”
