USDA inspector general physically escorted out of her office after defying White House

USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong was physically removed from her office by security personnel after refusing to accept her termination by the Trump administration. Fong, who had served in her role for 22 years, had informed her colleagues she planned to remain in her position after receiving notice of her firing the previous Friday.

According to sources who spoke with Reuters, Fong questioned the legality of her termination. In a Saturday email to her staff that Reuters reviewed, she cited the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s position that the termination notices failed to meet legal requirements and were therefore invalid.

When asked for comment, Fong declined to respond. The White House defended its decision to remove her and other inspectors general,

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