Ossoff criticizes Trump for firing 17 inspectors general, citing oversight concerns
US Senator Jon Ossoff, Democrat from Georgia, questions former US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Ratcliffe's nomination to be CIA director, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Janu
ATLANTA - Georgia’s Sen. Jon Ossoff says that President Donald Trump’s recent dismissal of 17 independent Inspectors General could lead to corruption and abuse within the federal government.
Their immediate dismissal at the end of January has sparked debate not just on how they were fired, but also on why.
SEE ALSO: Trump fires inspectors general
Ossoff chastises Trump over IG's firings
What they're saying:
Sen. Jon Ossoff is urging the Trump administration to reverse its decision to dismiss 17 independent Inspectors General, citing potential violations of the Inspector General Act of 2008 and the Securing Inspector General Independence Act of 2022. These laws require a 30-day written notice to Congress, detailing the reasons for removing or transferring an Inspector General. "The work of Inspectors General is critical to ensuring effectiveness and efficiency across the federal government and to preventing and detecting fraud and abuse where it occurs," Sen. Ossoff wrote in a letter to President Trump.
Sen. Ossoff says he is trying to advocate for stronger oversight mechanisms to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in the federal government and emphasizes the importance of maintaining independent checks on power. The dismissals have drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle because Congress did not receive the legally mandated 30-day notice. "Congress did not receive proper advance notice and a substantive, case-specific rationale for the recent Inspectors General terminations," Sen. Ossoff stated. "The lack of notice and explanation has raised reasonable questions among Members of Congress and the public about the bases for these removals."
Trump calls IG's firings ‘a very common thing’
The other side:
President Trump confirmed the firings during a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One the day after the news broke, describing the action as "a very common thing to do" and expressing confidence in appointing "good people" to the positions. However, the absence of the required notice has been criticized, even by some Republicans.
What are Inspectors General?
Dig deeper:
The role of Inspectors General, established in the post-Watergate era, serves as an independent check against mismanagement and abuse of power within federal agencies. Despite being presidential appointees, IGs are expected to operate in a nonpartisan manner, serving presidents from both parties.
The Source: This article is based on statements made by Sen. Jon Ossoff in a release on Wednesday. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reports were also used. This story is being reported out of Atlanta.