House Democrats Move To Protect Government Watchdogs

House Oversight Committee Democrats urged the 70 Inspectors General that independently oversee government agencies to report any Trump attempts to interfere with them.

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Donald Trump is the most predictable political animal ever to exist, which is what made it so surprising that so many voters thought that sending him back to the White House would result in an administration that would care about their concerns and produce different results.

One of the most predictable elements of Trump’s personality is his uncontrollable need to destroy anything that might hold him accountable.

The president-elect’s predictability comes with a downside.

Democrats know in broad strokes what Trump is going to do and where he is going to attack.

Rep. Jamie Raskin will soon be the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. Raskin currently serves on the House Oversight Committee and has made a move to offer protection to a very important but under-discussed group of individuals who serve in the federal government.

There are currently 70 Inspectors General who conduct independent oversight over government agencies. These IGs save taxpayers billions of dollars by pointing out waste and inefficiency and are watchdogs against corruption and wrongdoing.

It is this last part that has Trump’s allies asking him to fire all of the IGs and replace them with loyalists who will presumably look the other way.

Rep. Raskin (D-MD) has been sending out letters to the IGs like this one:

I write to emphasize our unequivocal support for your leadership as an inspector general, which is more important now than ever. As an inspector general, your role as an independent, nonpartisan “government watchdog” who seeks to detect waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government and who ensures that federal agencies operate efficiently and effectively, is a critical mission, and appears to be a high priority of the incoming administration.

Our nation’s inspectors general serve to hold government—and its leaders—accountable.

Although inspectors general appointed by the President may be removed, this authority should be used rarely, judiciously, and only for cause—never for partisan reasons. The Inspector General Act of 1978 requires that if the President intends to remove a sitting inspector general, he must first notify Congress at least 30 days beforehand.