By Natalie Alms
Apr 21, 2021
A group of seven Democrats introduced a bill on Monday containing measures that they say would help shield inspectors general from political interference. It would, among other things, limit the power of the president to remove IGs and restrict who can serve as an acting IG.
During a hearing held by a subcommittee of the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Tuesday, Democrats pointed to events during the administration of former President Donald Trump as proof that reform is needed.
Last spring, Trump ruffled feathers during a series of shuffles in IG offices across government. That rash of actions included removing Michael Atkinson from his position as IG of the Intelligence Community. He is the official who advanced a whistleblower report about the Trump administration's moves in regards to withholding congressionally authorized funds to Ukraine, a report that eventually lead to Trump's first impeachment in the House.