[House Document 119-16]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




119th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 119-16



 
            THE TERMINATION OF CERTAIN INSPECTOR GENERALS

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
 
                              transmitting

AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TERMINATING THE INSPECTOR GENERALS FOR DEPARTMENT OF 
COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING 
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, 
 DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF THE 
TREASURY, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 
   AGENCY, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, THE SPECIAL INSPECTOR 
     GENERAL FOR AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF 
AGRICULTURE, PURSUANT TO 5 U.S.C. 403(b); ADDED BY PUBLIC LAW 117-286,
SEC. 3(b); (136 STAT. 4209)






    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]







     January 31, 2025.--Referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
              Government Reform and ordered to be printed


                                   _______
 
 
                 U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 
                 
59-011                    WASHINGTON : 2025  




















                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, January 28, 2025.
Hon. Mike Johnson,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: Acting pursuant to my authority under 
Article II of the Constitution of the United States, I have 
terminated the Inspectors General for the following executive 
departments and agencies:
           The Department of Commerce;
           The Department of Defense;
           The Department of Education;
           The Department of Energy;
           The Department of Health and Human Services;
           The Department of Housing and Urban 
        Development;
           The Department of the Interior;
           The Department of Labor;
           The Department of State;
           The Department of Transportation;
           The Department of the Treasury;
           The Department of Veterans Affairs;
           The Environmental Protection Agency;
           The Small Business Administration;
           The Special Inspector General for 
        Afghanistan Reconstruction; and
           The Department of Agriculture.
    The Constitution vests ``the executive Power'' in the 
President, who has a duty to ``take Care that the Laws be 
faithfully executed.'' U.S. Const., Art. II, Sec. 1, cl. 1; Id. 
at Sec. 3. As the Supreme Court has recognized, ``[b]ecause no 
single person could fulfill that responsibility alone, the 
Framers expected that the President would rely on subordinate 
officers for assistance.'' Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau, 591 U.S. 197, 203-204 (2020). In order to 
ensure the President can properly discharge his duty to ensure 
the laws are faithfully executed, ``[s]ince 1789, the 
Constitution has been understood to empower the President to 
keep these officers accountable--by removing them from office, 
if necessary.'' Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company 
Accounting Oversight Board, 561 U.S. 477, 483 (2010).
    With a change in Presidential administration comes a change 
in priorities. I lack confidence in these officers to assist me 
in faithfully discharging my duties under the law. Thus, they 
have been terminated.
            Sincerely,
                                                   Donald J. Trump.

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