Politics
Judge Rules Eight Former Inspectors General Fired by Trump Will Not Be Reinstated
By Jake Beardslee · September 24, 2025
Judge Declines to Reinstate Inspectors General Fired by Trump Despite Likely Legal Violations
WASHINGTON — A federal judge declined Wednesday to reinstate eight former inspectors general who were abruptly dismissed by President Donald Trump, despite finding that the firings likely violated federal law. The White House / Wikimedia
Judge Cites Lack of Irreparable Harm, Says Law Limits Courts From Overriding Presidential Removals
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ruled that the removals did not create the "irreparable harm” needed to justify putting the non-partisan watchdogs back in their posts while their lawsuit proceeds. She argued that while the firings violated the Inspector General Act, the law does not give courts enough authority to override the president’s removal power before the case is resolved. Sora Shimazaki / Pexels
Eight Plaintiffs Part of Unprecedented January 24 Purge That Removed 17 Inspectors General
The eight plaintiffs were among 17 inspectors general ousted on January 24 in what attorneys described as an unprecedented purge. Each received a nearly identical two-sentence email citing unspecified “changing priorities.” The dismissals swept across nearly every cabinet-level agency, sparing only two. KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA / Pexels
Plaintiffs Cite Lack of Required Notice and Rationale; Government Insists President Can Remove Without Cause
Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued the administration violated the law by failing to give Congress the required 30-day notice or provide a “substantive, case-specific rationale” for each removal. Government lawyers countered that the president “can remove inspectors general without any showing of cause” and need not delay action after notifying Congress. Kendall Hoopes / Pexels
Judge Notes Reinstatement Would Be Temporary and Affirms Plaintiffs “Deserved Better,” but Court Can’t Grant Immediate Relief
Judge Reyes observed that even if she granted reinstatement, former President Trump could simply notify Congress and legally remove the inspectors general again after a 30-day period. She added that the group “deserved better from their government. They still do,” but the court could not provide more immediate relief. USA TODAY-USA TODAY NETWORK
Judge Praises Plaintiffs’ Distinguished Service but Questions Congress’s Power to Restrict Presidential Removals
Reyes acknowledged the watchdogs’ long record of “exceptional service as IGs, marked by decades of distinguished leadership across multiple administrations.” She also questioned whether Congress can legally limit a president’s power to remove inspectors general, noting that the law creates “a close call” about whether these officials qualify as inferior officers with limited duties or as principal officers with independent authority. Elijah Mears / Unsplash
Ousted Inspectors General Warn Firings Weaken Oversight
The plaintiffs, who served in agencies including the Small Business Administration and the Departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Education, and Labor, warn that the firings undermine federal oversight. Their attorneys said the dismissals “telegraph to the public that many of the largest federal agencies now lack the institutional mechanisms to detect and stop fraud and abuse.” Tingey Injury Law Firm / Unsplash
Inspectors General Saved $90 Billion Last Year
In 2023 alone, inspectors general reported saving taxpayers more than $90 billion. The Justice Department maintained that the president’s power to remove inspectors general “at any time and with no preconditions” is supported by the law’s structure. United States Department of Justice / Wikimedia