Why everyone’s talking about Donald Trump’s ‘deep state’ sacking
US President fires watchdog investigating key ally

US Democrats have launched an official investigation into Donald Trump’s sacking of the State Department’s chief watchdog.
Inspector general Steve Linick had been investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a key ally of the president, for alleged abuse of office.
Who is Steve Linick?
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Linick was appointed inspector general in 2013 by then-president Barack Obama, to oversee spending and detect mismanagement at the State Department, reports the BBC.
Last November, Linick published a report that accused the Trump administration of making choices on diplomats’ postings based on politics rather than merit, as Politico reported at the time.
Prior to being fired, the watchdog had been investigating allegations that Pompeo had used government-funded staffers to run errands for him and his wife.
Announcing the sacking on Friday, Trump claimed he “no longer” had the “fullest confidence” in Linick.
Pompeo is said to have recommended Linick’s dismissal, with the president confirming the decision, reports the Financial Times.
The move is “the latest in a series of dismissals of independent government watchdogs” by Trump, says CNN. First was the intelligence community inspector general, Michael Atkinson, who got the axe in early April after allowing the whistle-blower complaint to Congress that kicked off Trump’s impeachment.
Days later, Glenn Fine was fired as inspector general of defence, after being identified by the president as another “holdover” from Obama’s administration, CNN reports.
And in early May came the sacking of Christi Grimm, the health watchdog who revealed “severe shortages” of coronavirus testing kits in US hospitals, says The Washington Post.
And the reaction to Linick’s sacking?
In a television interview on Sunday, White House adviser Peter Navarro linked Linick to the “deep state” and said that those who were not loyal to the Trump administration had to go, reports The Independent.
But top Democrats on the House and Senate foreign relations committees immediately questioned the sacking and announced they would be launching an investigation.
“We unalterably oppose the politically-motivated firing of inspectors general and the president’s gutting of these critical positions,” Congressman Eliot Engel and Senator Bob Menendez said in a statement.
Linick had “opened an investigation into wrongdoing by Secretary Pompeo himself”, and his firing was “transparently designed to protect Secretary Pompeo from personal accountability”, they added.
Engel and Menendez have asked the White House and State Department to hand over all records related to Linick’s dismissal by this Friday, the BBC reports.
Some Republicans have joined Democrats in condemning the series of seemingly politically motivated dismissals.
Utah Senator Mitt Romney tweeted that Trump’s firings of multiple inspectors-general were “unprecedented” and “doing so without good cause chills the independence essential to their purpose”.
“It is a threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the constitutional balance of power,” he added.
Chuck Grassley, the Republican chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said that inspectors-general were “crucial in correcting government failures and promoting the accountability that the American people deserve”.
“As I’ve said before, Congress requires written reasons justifying an IG’s removal,” he added. “A general lack of confidence simply is not sufficient detail to satisfy Congress.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
What will happen next?
Linick’s firing will take effect in 30 days unless members of Congress intervene to pressure or convince Trump to reverse course - which is unlikely, given that the US leader has been on the inspector-general sacking warpath for months now.
Confirming Linick’s dismissal, a State Department spokesperson said that Stephen Akard, an ally of Vice President Mike Pence, will take over in the role.
Akard’s appointment will need to be ratified by Congress.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
And the Oscar goes to … no one in particular: Movies made with AI can now win awards
Under the radar Generative AI is no longer a barrier to acclaim
By Devika Rao, The Week US
-
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance – no end of sumptuous objects at the King's Gallery
The Week Recommends The splendour of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra is on display at Buckingham Palace
By The Week UK
-
Kevin Warsh: the man who could replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair
In the Spotlight Powell's term ends in 2026, and President Donald Trump will likely replace him
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Kevin Warsh: the man who could replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair
In the Spotlight Powell's term ends in 2026, and President Donald Trump will likely replace him
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
With Dick Durbin's retirement, where do Democrats go from here?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The number two Senate Democrat's pending departure is a pivotal moment for a party looking for leadership in the second Trump administration
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Nayib Bukele: the Salvadoran ally in Trump's deportation machine
In the Spotlight El Salvador's popular strongman rose to power promising to make his country safe
By David Faris
-
A dozen states sue Trump to halt tariffs
Speed Read The states sued in the US Court of International Trade, seeking to stop tariffs they say will damage their economies
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
A running list of RFK Jr.'s controversies
In Depth The man atop the Department of Health and Human Services has had no shortage of scandals over the years
By Brigid Kennedy
-
IMF sees slump from tariffs, Trump tries to calm markets
Speed Read The International Monetary Fund predicts the U.S. and global economies will slow significantly due to the president's trade war
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Climate: Trump's attempt to bring back coal
Feature Trump rolls back climate policies with executive orders aimed at reviving the coal industry
By The Week US