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.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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
-
Today's political cartoons - September 14, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - a second debate, Europe on the menu, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 cleverly clashing cartoons about the presidential debate
Cartoons Artists take on a deepfake debate, winners and losers, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Pélicot case: a horror exposed
Talking Point This case is unusually horrifying, but the misogyny that enabled is chillingly common
By The Week UK Published
-
Is the media 'sanewashing' Trump?
Talking Points Critics say there's a disconnect between 'reality and reported news'
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Harris baits, debates Trump in feisty Philly face-off
Speed Read The first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris quickly grew combative
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'This failure to reach out to the entire 9/11 community is unacceptable'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Tucker Carlson's WWII interview fractures conservatives
Talking Points Holocaust revisionism forces 'introspection' in right-wing media
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Why is a government shutdown possible before the election?
Today's Big Question A fight over immigration, spending and the future of House Speaker Mike Johnson
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Trump ups threatening rhetoric before debate
Tonight marks the first presidential debate between Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
When families cross the aisle against presidential candidates
In The Spotlight Tim Walz's cousins, Donald Trump's niece and nephew, RFK Jr.'s siblings: When it comes to running for office, blood is not necessarily thicker than water
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'The Gish Gallop will certainly play a major role'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published