US federal inspectors general sue President Trump

On February 12, eight inspectors general of US departments and agencies fired by President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court in Washington DC, accusing the 47th boss of the White House of "illegally" firing them and demanding immediate reinstatement.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that the properly appointed inspectors general of eight key US agencies - including the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of State, Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration - are seeking compensation for their unlawful and unjustified firing by President Trump and their agency leaders.

The eight former officials were among more than 10 inspectors general who received notices they were being fired due to changing priorities.

The two-sentence memo was emailed by the Office of Presidential Personnel four days after President Trump took office.

In the lawsuit, the eight inspectors general allege that they were fired illegally, including under the Inspector General Protection Act, which Congress strengthened in 2022.

According to this law, from the time the White House notifies Congress of its intention to fire an inspector general until that person is officially fired, there must be at least 30 days, and the White House must also provide a reasonable reason for firing that inspector general.

The firings, the plaintiffs say, clearly violate federal laws — each passed by majorities of both parties in Congress and signed into law by the president — that protect inspectors general from interference in this way by removing their important, nonpartisan oversight duties.

Eight inspectors general asserted that the attempt to fire them was unlawful and invalid, and asked the court to allow them to return to work until the White House followed proper procedures.