House Democrats on Friday announced a new bill to protect inspectors general from political retribution in response to President Donald Trump’s “relentless attacks” against government watchdogs.
The bill from Democrats on the House Oversight Committee came a week after Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick on a recommendation from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Linick was reportedly conducting at least two investigations involving Pompeo when he was removed last Friday night.
“Unfortunately, this bill has become necessary because the Trump administration has launched a campaign against inspectors general for doing their jobs, for investigating waste, fraud, and abuse, for reporting the truth, and for holding this administration accountable,” Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said in a press release.
