Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), alongside 27 members of Congress, submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia calling on the Court to immediately reinstate the eight inspectors general President Trump fired at the start of his term.
In the amicus brief, Bennet, Schumer, and their Senate Democratic colleagues underscore that inspectors general are responsible for ensuring the faithful execution of the laws passed by Congress. The lawmakers explain that the President must provide prior notice to Congress before removing an inspector general to allow Congress time to review the decision.
“Inspectors General (‘IGs’) are responsible for uncovering and preventing waste, fraud, and abuse in the administration of federal programs. Their investigations, reports, and audits are crucial tools in uncovering corruption and mismanagement in the executive branch, and IGs are vital to fulfilling Congress’ constitutional oversight responsibilities. For those reasons, Congress requires the President by law to provide notice to Congress, and thus an opportunity for interbranch consultation, before removing an Inspector General from his position,” wrote Bennet and the lawmakers.
In their brief, the lawmakers ask the Court to overturn President Trump’s removal of the inspectors general and reinstate them to their respective offices. They argue these firings violate the law because President Trump did not properly notify Congress.
“Removals of IGs without prior notice to Congress are legally ineffective. IGs who were removed without an explanation to Congress and without providing Congress an opportunity to weigh in on the stated reasons for removal must be reinstated,” continued the lawmakers.
In addition to Bennet and Schumer, the amicus brief was signed by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).
The text of the amicus brief is available HERE.