Judge won't reinstate 8 government watchdogs fired by Trump

Source: CBS News

Updated on: September 24, 2025 / 5:00 PM EDT


Washington — A federal judge on Tuesday declined to reinstate a group of internal watchdogs at eight federal agencies who were fired by President Trump earlier this year, but she wrote that the president broke the law when he ousted them without notifying Congress and providing justification for the removals. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes declined the officials' request for an order allowing them to return to their jobs as inspectors general unless Mr. Trump removes them in a way that complies with federal law.

Reyes said the plaintiffs, eight former government watchdogs, failed to show that they had suffered irreparable harm as a result of their firings. She noted that even if the officials were reinstated to their roles, as they asked to be, Mr. Trump could remove them again after 30 days by providing notice and a rationale to Congress, requirements laid out in the Inspector General Act.

"The Court recognizes Plaintiffs' exceptional service as IGs, marked by decades of distinguished leadership across multiple administrations. They sacrificed much to take on the role of an IG and its many demands — no doubt including substantial time away from family and far larger paychecks available in the private sector," Reyes wrote in a 20-page decision. "They deserved better from their government. They still do. Unfortunately, this Court cannot provide Plaintiffs more."

Still, she said that Mr. Trump violated that law when he fired the internal agency watchdogs without telling Congress or laying out the reasons for the removals. "President Trump violated the IGA. That much is obvious," Reyes wrote.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-government-watchdogs-inspector-generals-fired-by-trump/