Phyllis Fong, who served as Inspector General of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) since 2002, told colleagues last week she planned to resist President Trump’s order firing multiple IGs across different federal agencies.
The act of defiance did not end well. Security greeted her when she showed up to work on Monday and promptly removed her from her office.
On Wednesday, Reuters reported exclusively on the situation.
“Security agents escorted the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Agriculture out of her office on Monday after she refused to comply with her firing by the Trump administration,” they relayed, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.
Fong, along with at least 16 other colleagues, learned that they had been fired by the president in a late-night purge this past Friday. The targeted individuals received notice via email.
The following day, Fong had reportedly emailed colleagues arguing “that these termination notices do not comply with the requirements set out in law and therefore are not effective at this time.”
That wasn’t enough to keep her from being removed from the building.
President Trump’s actions have not been without controversy. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and ranking member Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) claim the firings violated the 30-day advance notice period required by the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt countered those concerns by stating the President has the authority to fire people working in the executive branch.
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“It is the belief of this White House and the White House Counsel’s Office that the president was within his executive authority to do that,” she said at her first press briefing. “He is the executive of the executive branch, and, therefore, he has the power to fire anyone within the executive branch that he wishes to.”
Leavitt also cited Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that tackled separation of powers and determined the president can generally remove officers at will.
Fong was nominated for the inspector general position at the USDA by former President George W. Bush a little over 22 years ago. She was responsible for audits, evaluations, investigations, and law enforcement efforts relating to the department’s programs and operations.
A White House official issued a statement to Government Executive insisting the IG firings will “make room for qualified individuals who will uphold the rule of law and protect Democracy.”
The official described those who were removed as “rogue, partisan bureaucrats who have weaponized the justice system against their political enemies” and “no longer fit or deserve to serve in their appointed positions.”
It seems likely that the inspectors general will fight this move in court, and Congress will be weighing in as well.
Fong has thus far not commented on her forceful removal from office. RedState will keep readers updated if that changes.
