Several Inspectors General Step Down Before Presidential Transition
Some Inspectors General (IGs), who play a critical role as watchdogs in the federal government by conducting audits and rooting out fraud, are starting to leave their posts ahead of President-elect Trump’s inauguration.
It’s an unusual move, as inspectors general have independence, are non-partisan, and typically do not leave during changes in administrations.
While not citing Mr. Trump’s election explicitly, two IGs in the intelligence community have announced their exits, even as intelligence IG jobs have no fixed terms of service.
CIA Inspector General Robin Ashton announced her retirement effective at the end of the year, while Intelligence Community Inspector General Thomas Monheim is resigning on January 3, 2025.
Meanwhile, the National Security Agency’s (NSA) inspector General’s Office is being run by deputy IG Kevin Gerrity, as the nomination of Kristi Zuleika Lane Scott to be permanent IG is stuck in the Senate.
The departures are raising alarm bells among lawmakers, who worry that critical oversight will be hampered.
“The IGs play a crucial role, and we need those positions filled,” said Senator Angus King (I-ME), an independent who caucuses with Democrats and is a member of the Intelligence Committee. “The fact that two are leaving is unsettling.”
Republicans were less worried.
“If they don’t want to work for Trump, they shouldn’t work for Trump. So it’s a deal for both sides. We will find people who will fill these jobs and do it well, and I have absolutely no concerns about that at all,” said Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), also a member of the Intelligence Committee.
Trump’s IG Relationships
In 2020, President Trump fired two inspectors general and sidelined three others in a span of a few weeks, raising concerns that he was targeted IGs looking into his administration.
Intelligence Community IG Michael Atkinson was fired after he sent the whistleblower complaint about President Trump’s alleged coercion of Ukraine’s president for dirt on Joe Biden, which lead to Mr. Trump’s first impeachment.
President Trump also fired State Department IG Steve Linick as Linick was investigating then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for alleged improprieties.
Three others, including acting Pentagon acting IG Glen Fine, were sidelined and passed over for promotions.
Stressing IG Independence
Formed Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Bromwich said resigning is not the way to go.
“I’m very disappointed that the two IGs have resigned,” said Bromwich to Politico. “My view is that when things get tough, IGs should not resign, but instead redouble their efforts to do their jobs. Doing a tough job in difficult circumstances is what they bargained for. I think preemptively resigning makes things too easy for the incoming administration to avoid oversight. To prematurely run for the exits, in my view, that is not the way to handle the responsibility.”
Jason Foster, founder of the whistleblower group Empower Oversight, also stressed the need for IG independence.
“It seems more likely that there may be a demand for IG resignations or outright firings this time around, but if … going forward all IGs are merely political appointees, then what’s the purpose of having IGs? It’s a fig leaf at that point with no real independence,” said Foster.