Dear current and former members of the inspector general community,
Last year, in a highly unusual move, President Donald Trump fired more than 18 inspectors general without any specific reason, as required by law, and replaced several of them with political allies. Over the past few weeks, we’ve spoken to dozens of people with experience in this field. They gave us important background on how these offices work. Some have expressed concern that these new federal watchdog agencies will not be able to carry out important oversight tasks independently.
We recognize the longstanding reluctance of the Inspector General and his staff to interact with the media. But this is a special moment. As ProPublica journalists, we share a common purpose with the Inspector General. It is about identifying all waste, fraud, and abuse, holding governments accountable, and responding thoroughly, fairly, and accurately. That’s why we’re asking for your help in helping us understand and provide a complete picture of what’s happening, or not, in these offices, which are facing unprecedented change. To do this job, it’s important to talk to as many people as possible.
If you work in or recently retired from the Office of the Federal Inspector General, please tell us about your experience. Have important projects been canceled? Has your staff been asked to do work in the past that would not normally be done in the Office of the Inspector General? What is working well or better than before? Are you facing obstacles that impact your ability to get the job done?
We welcome general as well as specific tips and respect confidentiality. Both of us have extensive experience covering sensitive topics and government agencies. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about ourselves or our projects. Contact us on Signal or email and share this letter with everyone who should see it.
Signed,
