Agriculture Inspector Forced Out For Defying Trump Order


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The physical removal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s inspector general occurred Monday when security personnel had to escort Phyllis Fong from her office after she refused to accept her termination by the Trump administration, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Prior to her removal, Fong, who had dedicated 22 years to the department, had expressed to her coworkers her intention to remain in her position. She contested the legitimacy of her firing, believing the administration had not followed the correct procedures, sources revealed.

In a message to her colleagues on Saturday that Reuters reviewed, Fong referenced the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s stance that “these termination notices do not comply with the requirements set out in law and therefore are not effective at this time.”

When approached for comment, Fong did not respond.

The White House justified the dismissal of Fong and other inspectors general, stating that “these rogue, partisan bureaucrats … have been relieved of their duties in order to make room for qualified individuals who will uphold the rule of law and protect Democracy.”

The role of USDA inspector general encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including oversight of food safety, departmental audits, investigations, and enforcement of animal welfare regulations. The department has been particularly focused on addressing the bird flu crisis, which has affected both cattle and poultry populations and resulted in one fatality in Louisiana.

Sources confirmed that in 2022, the inspector general’s office initiated an investigation into Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain implant venture, which continues today. The office has also addressed various other concerns, including animal mistreatment at research facility dog breeding operations and the listeria outbreak at Boar’s Head.

Musk, who contributed over $250 million to support Trump’s November election victory, has become an influential figure in the president’s circle.

Fong was one of 17 federal watchdogs dismissed by Trump on Friday, in what critics labeled a mass termination. Trump later addressed reporters on Air Force One, defending his actions by saying, “It’s a very common thing to do.” He provided no information about potential replacements.

According to the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, these dismissals, which occurred less than a week into Trump’s second term, appeared to violate federal statutes, as stated in their letter to the White House.

Fong’s tenure included serving as CIGIE’s inaugural chairperson from 2008 to 2014, as noted in her USDA website biography.