Federal judge rules Trump firing inspectors general violated law, allows dismissals

A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump violated the law when he fired inspectors general without giving them proper notice, but allowed the dismissals.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, a Biden appointee, ruled Wednesday that while Trump violated a law requiring a 30 days’ notice sent to Congress before firing any inspector general, she did not have the power to reinstate the inspectors general, The Hill reported.

The lawsuit was brought by eight of the 17 inspectors general that Trump fired earlier this year, but Reyes found that they could not show that they had been irreparably harmed.

“President Trump violated the [Inspectors General Act]. That much is obvious. And Plaintiffs raise compelling arguments that the violation must be remedied through reinstatement to their positions,” Reyes wrote in her decision.

However, the inspectors general could be fired again by Trump providing the required notice to Congress.

“But under well-established case law that this Court is bound to follow, Plaintiffs must show irreparable harm. And they cannot,” she wrote.

“Even assuming that the IGA comports with Article II, Plaintiffs’ inability to perform their duties for 30 days is not irreparable harm. Moreover, if the IGs were reinstated, the President could lawfully remove them after 30 days by providing the required notice and rationale to Congress.”

Reyes denied the request for an injunction, but she has yet to rule on whether the fired inspectors general should receive back pay, ordering the plaintiffs to provide additional briefings on the subject.