Eight Inspectors General Fired by President Donald Trump Challenge Their Dismissals in Federal Court
The eight inspectors general, fired by President Donald Trump at the start of his second term, appeared in federal court last Thursday to challenge their dismissals. They argued that the dismissals were "valid and justified" and requested to be reinstated.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes acknowledged that it would be very difficult for the court to reinstate the eight inspectors general, even if she were to rule that their dismissals were unconstitutional. She said, "Unless you convince me otherwise, I don't see how I could reinstate the inspectors general to their positions."
The judge further stated that the best the court could do would be to order back pay, though she noted, "It is clear that the process of removing these individuals was in violation of the law."
The lawsuit was filed last month, in which the eight inspectors general sought immediate action from the judge to reverse their dismissals. They argued that the Trump administration's actions were an attempt to eliminate an independent and nonpartisan oversight body, which they claimed was against the rule of law.
However, the chances of winning the case are slim, as Trump supporters argue that the president has the constitutional right to make such decisions under his executive powers. In 2022, Congress amended the Inspector General Act, which previously required the president to notify Congress 30 days before dismissing an inspector general. The amendment now only requires a "substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons" for terminations.
During the hearing, Reyes mentioned that the court was considering whether inspectors general could be classified as "principal" officers. However, she indicated that unless new or significant information emerged, she did not see a likelihood of ruling in favor of the plaintiffs.
