In a legal showdown with sweeping implications for government oversight, eight former inspectors general ousted by President Donald Trump have launched a lawsuit, demanding their reinstatement. The case, filed in a D.C. federal court Wednesday, seeks to nullify their terminations, arguing they were executed without legal authority.
Mass Firings Spark Legal Battle
The White House sent shockwaves through federal agencies last month with a brief, two-sentence email dismissing more than a dozen inspectors general. The justification? “Changing priorities,” according to the lawsuit. But the plaintiffs argue that the removals flouted federal law, leaving them as the rightful watchdogs of their respective agencies until a proper legal process is followed.
“Defendants’ actions have inflicted substantial damage on the critical oversight ethos of transparency, truth-telling without fear or favor, and respect for the rule of law,” the complaint states, painting the firings as a direct assault on government accountability.
Who’s Fighting to Get Their Jobs Back?
The fired inspectors general taking legal action include:
- Robert P. Storch (Department of Defense)
- Michael J. Missal (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Christi A. Grimm (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Cardell K. Richardson (Department of State)
- Sandra D. Bruce (Department of Education)
- Phyllis K. Fong (Department of Agriculture)
- Larry D. Turner (Department of Labor)
- Hannibal “Mike” Ware (Small Business Administration)
These officials, responsible for rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse, argue their abrupt dismissals undermine the very foundation of federal oversight.
Legal Heavyweights Enter the Ring
The inspectors general have enlisted a formidable legal team from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, led by Seth P. Waxman, David W. Ogden, Daniel Volchok, Jamie Yood, Hillary Chutter-Ames, Ann E. Himes, and Nicholas Werle.
