Trump’s Mass Firing of Watchdogs Threatens Government Oversight, Says Ex-Official
TL/DR –
Hampton Dellinger, the fired head of the Office of Special Counsel, warns that President Trump’s ouster of independent watchdog agencies threatens government oversight. This has resulted in a mass firing of watchdog office heads, a move that has not been done in 44 years. Dellinger, along with other critics, views this as an intentional dismantling of independent oversight, fearing that watchdog agencies will no longer remain independent.
Hampton Dellinger, ousted head of the Office of Special Counsel, cautions that President Trump’s dismissal of independent oversight offices undermines government surveillance.
Trump dismissed Dellinger, the former overseer of federal employee complaints and government whistleblowers, and 17 inspectors general, auditors tasked with identifying power abuses and mismanagement, in February. He further ousted the director of the Office of Government Ethics.
Role of the watchdogs
After the Watergate scandal, Congress established a system to audit the executive branch and safeguard federal workers’ rights. The watchdogs’ independence from politics allows them to punish wrongdoers and expose blunders without presidential interference.
Trump characterized the firing as routine, but no previous president has executed mass firings of watchdog heads in 44 years.
The Office of Special Counsel, unrelated to the Department of Justice office prosecuting Trump, allowed federal employees to report problems to Dellinger without fear of retaliation.
“Employees need a safe place to go that’s still in the executive branch but outside of the agency,” Dellinger stated.
A recent government report noted that whistleblowers helped the Office of the Special Counsel recover $110 million owed to veterans and exposed opioid overprescription at a VA clinic.
Despite being appointed by Democrat President Biden, Dellinger insists his non-partisan role led him to file cases against the Biden administration repeatedly.
Impact of the firings
The 17 inspectors general fired by Trump were auditors of major departments, including defense, veterans affairs, and labor. The inspector general of the foreign aid agency, U.S. Agency for International Development, Paul Martin, was fired two weeks later.
Martin, responsible for overseeing billions in foreign aid spending, issued a report stating that emergency aid halted due to the turmoil caused by mass firings at USAID. His report warned of potential spoilage or theft of half a billion dollars in food aid. Martin was dismissed the following day.
Martin had spent over two decades in various inspector general offices. He served as an inspector general during Trump’s first term and remained in government under Biden. Martin argues that the firings are unusual for a new president.
Behind the firings
Federal law mandates a president to inform Congress 30 days prior to removing an inspector general and provide detailed reasons for the termination. Dismissing the head of the Office of Special Counsel also requires a termination reason.
Future of watchdogs
Dellinger emphasizes the importance of independence for the Office of the Special Counsel and other oversight bodies. However, he fears that future office holders will be dependent on the president’s favor.
“The protection that’s been there for the past 50 years is gone,” Dellinger stated.
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