USDA inspector general forcibly removed from office

Reuters sources reported that security agents removed the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector general from her office on Monday after she refused to comply with the Trump administration's termination.

Phyllis Fong, a 22-year department veteran, informed coworkers of her intention to stay after the White House fired her Friday, citing concerns about inadequate administration standards, according to sources, as The Daily Beast reported.

She wrote to colleagues on Saturday that 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.”

Despite several requests, Fong and the Office of the Inspector General did not respond to requests for comment.

From the Office

"She was accompanied by two friends who she paused to take selfies with on her way out. Security officials did not play any role in her departure,” the spokesperson said, who was allowed to leave the office of her own accord.

The White House spoke to the decision to fire Fong and the other inspectors general, saying "these rogue, partisan bureaucrats... have been relieved of their duties in order to make room for qualified individuals who will uphold the rule of law and protect Democracy."

The USDA inspector general investigates animal welfare, consumer food safety, and Agriculture Department audits.

The USDA has been at the center of bird flu fears, which have spread among livestock and hens and killed a person in Louisiana.

Investigation

The Inspector General's office began investigating Elon Musk's brain implant business Neuralink in 2022, which is still ongoing, according to sources. In recent years, the office has addressed animal mistreatment at dog breeders for research labs and Boar's Head's listeria outbreak.

Musk spent over $250 million to help Donald Trump win the election and has become a vital ally for the newly re-elected president.

Trump fired 17 federal watchdogs, including Fong, in a purge opponents called a Friday-night blitz.

Trump told reporters on Air Force One that "it’s a very common thing to do." Who would fill the positions was unknown.