The Daily Populous Saturday January 25th, 2025 evening edition
Authored by bbc.com and submitted by Real-Work-1953

Republican senator questions Trump's dismissal of inspectors general

Republican senator and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley has said he wants "further explanation" from Trump after the president fired at least at dozen inspectors general.

As we've been reporting, the legality of the move to dismiss the officials - who act at independent watchdogs for federal agencies - has been questioned by Democrats and the chair of the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.

Grassley says there "may be good reason" for the officials to be dismissed, but added: "We need to know that if so. I'd like further explanation from President Trump.

"Regardless, the 30 day detailed notice of removal that the law demands was not provided to Congress."

It's not the first time Grassley has clashed with Trump over an attempt to fire inspectors general - in the president's first term Grassley challenged dismissals on similar grounds and requested more details.

In 2020 he signed a bipartisan joint letter which argued "Congress intended that inspectors general only be removed when there is clear evidence of wrongdoing or failure to perform the duties of the office, and not for reasons unrelated to their performance".

Michael_Gibb on January 25th, 2025 at 04:19 UTC »

It's funny how when it comes to DEI, the MAGA crowd is like, "People should be hired on their merits."

But when it comes to Trump's nominees, the merits don't matter.

MKerrsive on January 25th, 2025 at 03:48 UTC »

Welp, I've seen Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins do this song and dance before, and it wound up being * spectacular * for everyone else. I'm betting this one goes over just as well.

SilentResident1037 on January 25th, 2025 at 03:48 UTC »

Didn't they say he was unqualified?

Do the tribunals not actually mean anything?