Trump Appoints Politically Aligned Inspectors General

During the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, the administration appointed several inspectors general (IGs) with overtly partisan backgrounds. One former Republican congressman-turned-IG has publicly praised Trump while attacking California Governor Gavin Newsom. Another Trump-appointed IG singled out New York Attorney General Letitia James, a frequent target of the president. Additionally, a right-wing operative who co-authored the conservative “Project 2025” document was placed in charge of the IG office that would oversee any internal probe of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool repairs.

New York Times

Inspectors general were created by the 1978 Inspector General Act to provide independent, nonpartisan oversight of federal agencies. Historically, IGs are expected to operate without political influence. Since taking office, President Trump has fired numerous IGs and reduced funding for their offices, then filled the vacancies with individuals whose political loyalties are clear, shifting investigative focus toward state-level fraud allegations rather than scrutiny of the administration itself.

New York Times

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended the appointments, describing the new IGs as “highly qualified and accomplished individuals” tasked with targeting fraud. Former Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general Michael J. Missal warned that the practice of installing loyal IGs threatens the credibility and integrity of the oversight system established in 1978.

New York Times

• “When you have your own I.G.s, you lose the credibility and integrity of the work. If people think that you’re doing it to support the administration, then the whole concept that was created in 1978 of independent, nonpartisan inspectors general goes away.” — Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman

New York Times