USDA's Fong Escorted Out After Defying Dismissal

Phyllis Fong, the 22-year veteran Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was escorted out of her office by security after refusing to comply with her dismissal by the Trump administration. Fong, along with 17 other inspectors general, was terminated in what has been described as a 'Friday night purge' by President Trump, who claimed the firings were necessary to replace 'rogue, partisan bureaucrats' with individuals who uphold the rule of law. Fong argued that the termination did not follow the legal protocols, as the Inspector General Act requires a 30-day notice to Congress before such dismissals. The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency stated that the termination notices did not comply with legal requirements, thus rendering them ineffective. The firings have been controversial, attracting bipartisan criticism and raising concerns about the undermining of independent oversight. Some speculate that Fong's investigations, including one into Neuralink, may have contributed to her firing.