Several federal watchdogs fired by Donald Trump have filed a lawsuit against his administration to get their jobs back.
In the suit filed on Wednesday, eight former inspectors general from eight government departments – including defense, veterans affairs, health and human services, state, agriculture, education and labor – and the Small Business Administration said they were seeking “redress for their unlawful and unjustified purported termination” by Trump and their respective agency heads.
The lawsuit states that just four days into his second term, Trump, “acting through a two-sentence email sent by the director or deputy director of the office of presidential personnel, purported to remove from office (supposedly on account of ‘changing priorities’) nearly a score of IGs”.
It also says that the fired officials were “appointed by and/or served under presidents of both parties”, including Trump during his first term.
A federal judge Monday ordered the U.S. Justice Department to provide a sworn declaration by noon...
