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Trump Challenges Authority, Independence of Agency Watchdogs

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is moving aggressively to challenge
   the authority and independence of agency watchdogs overseeing his
   administration, including removing the inspector general tasked with
   overseeing the $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package that passed
   Congress with bipartisan support.

   In four days, Trump has fired one inspector general tied to his
   impeachment, castigated another he felt was overly critical of the
   coronavirus response and sidelined a third meant to safeguard against
   wasteful spending of the coronavirus funds.

   The actions have sent shock waves across the close-knit network of
   watchdog officials in government, creating open conflict between a
   president reflexively resistant to outside criticism and an oversight
   community tasked with rooting out fraud, misconduct and abuse.

   The most recent act threatens to upend scrutiny of the $2.2 trillion
   coronavirus rescue effort now underway, setting the stage for a major
   clash between Trump, government watchdogs and Democrats who are
   demanding oversight of the vast funds being pumped into the American
   economy.

   "We're seeing since Friday a wrecking ball across the IG community,"
   said Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government
   Oversight, a government watchdog group.

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