Security agents had to escort the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after she refused to comply with her firing by the Trump administration, Reuters reports.
Phyllis Fong was terminated on Friday but reportedly said she intended to stay, saying she didn’t believe the administration “followed proper protocols.”
BREAKING: USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong was reportedly escorted out of her office by security after she refused to leave after President Trump fired her.
Bye bye
pic.twitter.com/ZClXI38Zpr
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 29, 2025
Per Reuters:
Fong was among the 17 federal watchdogs fired by Trump on Friday in what critics described as a Friday-night purge. Speaking to reporters afterwards aboard Air Force One, Trump defended the move saying “it’s a very common thing to do.” He did not say who would be installed in the vacant posts.
The dismissals, handed out less than a week after Trump took office for his second term, appeared to violate federal law, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency said in a letter to the White House on Friday.
Fong served as the first chairperson of CIGIE from 2008 through 2014, according to her biography on USDA’s website.
BREAKING: Security removes USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong from her office after defying Trump’s termination orders. pic.twitter.com/4DkbRddmT4
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 29, 2025
THIS is what WINNING looks like
Security physically REMOVED USDA Phyllis Fong as she refused to accept that she was FIRED by President Trump. pic.twitter.com/rTbHgjBPJH
— Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) January 29, 2025
Newsweek reports:
Phyllis Fong, a 22-year veteran of the department, had informed colleagues that she planned to stay on despite the White House’s decision to terminate her on Friday, arguing that the administration had not followed proper protocols, according to the sources.
In an email reviewed by Reuters sent by Fong on Saturday, she said the independent Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency “has taken the position that these termination notices do not comply with the requirements set out in law and therefore are not effective at this time.”
Trump confirmed the firings with reporters, saying, “It’s a very common thing to do,” and he would “put good people in there who will be very good.”
The winning continues … pic.twitter.com/Z7QuEtuIie
— Sheri
(@FFT1776) January 25, 2025
From the Associated Press:
The Trump administration has fired about 17 independent inspectors general at government agencies, a sweeping action to remove oversight of his new administration that some members of Congress are suggesting violated federal oversight laws.
The dismissals began Friday night and were effective immediately, according to two people familiar with the actions. They spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details that have not been made public. Neither confirmed the exact number of firings, but an email sent by one of the fired inspectors general said “roughly 17” inspectors general had been removed.
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!