Award Banner
Award Banner

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

USDA inspector general escorted out of her office after defying White House
The US Department of Agriculture is seen in Washington, on March 18, 2012.
PHOTO: Reuters file

WASHINGTON - Security agents escorted the inspector general of the US Department of Agriculture out of her office on Monday (Jan 27) after she refused to comply with her firing by the Trump administration, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Phyllis Fong, a 22-year veteran of the department, had earlier told colleagues that she intended to stay after the White House terminated her Friday, saying that she didn't believe the administration had followed proper protocols, the sources said.

In an email to colleagues on Saturday, reviewed by Reuters, she said the independent Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency "has taken the position that these termination notices do not comply with the requirements set out in law and therefore are not effective at this time."

Fong declined to comment and the Office of the Inspector General did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

After this article was published, a USDA spokesperson said Fong left the office Monday on her own accord.

"She was accompanied by two friends who she paused to take selfies with on her way out. Security officials did not play any role in her departure," the spokesperson said.

The White House defended the firing of Fong and the other inspectors general, saying "these rogue, partisan bureaucrats... have been relieved of their duties in order to make room for qualified individuals who will uphold the rule of law and protect Democracy."

The USDA inspector general has a broad mandate, pursuing consumer food safety, audits and investigations of the Agriculture Department as well as violations of animal welfare laws. The USDA has been at the heart of concerns about bird flu, which has spread among cattle and chickens and killed a person in Louisiana.

In 2022, the inspector general's office launched an investigation of Elon Musk's brain implant startup Neuralink, which remains ongoing, sources said. In recent years, the office has also taken on animal abuse at dog breeders for research labs and the listeria outbreak at Boar's Head, among other issues.

Musk spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help President Donald Trump get elected in November and has emerged as a key player in the president's orbit.

Fong was among the 17 federal watchdogs fired by Trump on Friday in what critics described as a Friday-night purge. Speaking to reporters afterwards aboard Air Force One, Trump defended the move saying "it's a very common thing to do." He did not say who would be installed in the vacant posts.

The dismissals, handed out less than a week after Trump took office for his second term, appeared to violate federal law, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency said in a letter to the White House on Friday.

Fong served as the first chairperson of Cigie from 2008 through 2014, according to her biography on USDA's website.

In response to the Reuters story, Senator Mazie Hirono criticised Trump's firing of the watchdogs.

"Egg prices are soaring. Bird flu is out of control. USDA should be fixing this problem. Instead, Trump is stacking the federal government with yes-men. He doesn't care about your grocery prices," she wrote on X.

ALSO READ: Trump administration fires team of lawyers who prosecuted him, official says

Source: Reuters

homepage

trending

trending
    Fewer candidates this time, but PSP confirms it is contesting West Coast-Jurong West and Chua Chu Kang GRCs
    Woman who allegedly cheated son in Netflix's Con Mum charged in Singapore with fraud
    Former MOF director Shawn Loh seen at Jalan Besar GRC community events
    Man, 55, found dead in car left stationary for 2 days in Paya Lebar
    'I thought I could outwit scammers': Woman who lost over $78,000 to job scam in 4 days
    'Akan datang': WP Sengkang MPs coy on whether they will remain as team in GE2025
    Woman hit by car at Sengkang East Drive pedestrian crossing after cars refuse to give way
    The rise of Chinese F&B brands in Singapore: What stirs Singaporeans' appetites?
    NewJeans changes social media handles and deletes posts after court ruling
    How do Trump's tariffs affect you? Here is an explainer
    Edwin Goh proposes to Rachel Wan, both returning to Singapore after 2 years in Australia
    Hong Kong actor Lee Lung Kei still plans to marry fiancee 37 years younger after her release from prison

Singapore

Singapore
    • 2 GRCs and 1 SMC: This Woodlands junction separates 3 electoral divisions
    • 21 men in Singapore among 435 arrested in cross-border operation targeting online child sex abuse
    • HSA raids home of woman filmed vaping in train, finds vape pod containing anaesthetic
    • Singapore deploys 34-member emergency medical team to aid Myanmar quake relief efforts
    • Singaporeans must stay united, not be confused by 'strange ideas or soft solutions': SM Lee
    • 'Revenge porn' victims speak out: 'Will he take pictures of me when I’m not looking?'
    • GE2025: Balancing need for foreign talent with aspirations of Singaporean workers
    • Where the parties stand on key issues ahead of GE2025
    • Trump's tariffs have limited direct impact 'for now' but consequences could be 'wider and more profound': PM Wong
    • 2 Taiwanese men allegedly part of a crime syndicate charged with cheating

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • 'My brain got so fried up': Gurmit Singh hit by anxiety attack while acting in his 1st Chinese drama
    • Gossip mill: Diana Ser's son to enlist, Takeshi Kaneshiro back after 3 years, agency says late Sulli wasn't forced to film nude scene
    • E-Junkies: The Click Five will consider making new music if upcoming tour goes well
    • Former NCT idol Lucas to make acting debut in Taiwan
    • Ed Sheeran releases new single Azizam
    • UK police charge comedian Russell Brand with rape, sexual assaults
    • Jean-Claude Van Damme accused of having sex with trafficked women
    • 'I was right there just 3cm behind her': Exo's Kai recalls joys of simple life during military service, meeting commuter checking him out online
    • Jim Carrey pays tribute to Val Kilmer's 'grace and courage'
    • Val Kilmer reportedly discussed reprising his role as Batman before his death

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • AI and art: Studio Ghibli-inspired trend sparks debate on ethics and consent
    • The iconic Milo Van beverage is now available in supermarkets
    • Disney's Beauty and the Beast musical to make Asia premiere in Singapore this December
    • A first look: Blue Bottle Coffee's cafe at Raffles City, here's what to expect
    • A bright minimalist condo apartment with a loft
    • The truth about integrated developments in Singapore: 5 homeowners share their living experience
    • How to pay in China like a local: 2025 guide for foreigners and tourists
    • Battlebox, but make it art: Portals will change how you see this underground bunker
    • Sunda Festival 2025: 2 friends shaping Singapore's music and festival scene
    • MG Cyberster review: Stunning-looking roadster that packs a powerful electric punch

Digicult

Digicult
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • One Beijing man's quest to keep cooking — and connecting with Americans — on camera
    • Nintendo Switch 2 to launch in June with US$449.99 price tag
    • Games in April: RPGs, racing and Ronaldo in a fighting game
    • Is it time to get a MacBook at a good price? The M4 MacBook Air says yes
    • China's Baidu launches 2 new AI models as industry competition heats up
    • China's top universities expand enrolment to beef up capabilities in AI, strategic areas
    • International Women's Day: Meet the Singapore women levelling up in gaming
    • US indicts slew of alleged Chinese hackers, sanctions company over spy campaign

Money

Money
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • Personal loans for new parents: When do they make sense?
    • 9 best personal loans in Singapore with lowest interest rates (April 2025)
    • Best travel insurance policies for places prone to natural disasters (2025)
    • 'We spent just $5,000 on reno': Why some buyers are skipping big renovations in 2025
    • Wedding loan vs. personal loan: What's the best way to finance a wedding in Singapore
    • Triple record-breaking $3.06m EC: How did they manage it?
    • US starts collecting Trump's new 10% tariff, smashing global trade norms
    • Stocks slump again after China fires back in trade war with tariffs on US goods
    • Trump's tariffs provoke trade war threats, fears of pricier iPhones

Latest

Latest
  • Barack Obama says he was in 'deep deficit' with wife Michelle after leaving White House
  • India, UAE to develop Sri Lanka energy hub as Delhi competes with China for influence
  • Rains add to challenge for Myanmar quake relief, toll at 3,471
  • Thousands of anti-Trump protesters gather in Washington, other US cities
  • Musk says he hopes for 'zero tariffs' between US and Europe
  • North Korea holding first Pyongyang Marathon in 6 years
  • Palestinian paramedic says he saw Israeli troops firing on emergency vehicles
  • Protesters rally across Spain against housing crisis, tourist flats
  • Sex toys and exploding cosmetics: Anatomy of a 'hybrid war' on the West

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • 'She should be with her family': Employer gives maid plane ticket, $800 to return to Myanmar and search for missing mum
  • 'He needed something to help him fight,' says man who bought Hokkien mee for dying patient
  • Thai woman struggles to evacuate during earthquake while her dog sleeps unfazed
  • Workers painting exterior of Geylang block discover man's skeletal remains in flat
  • 'New, younger' PAP team vows to reclaim WP-controlled Sengkang GRC, says Lam Pin Min
  • New face Jackson Lam 'very good on the ground' and will be asset to Parliament, says Shanmugam
  • Woman who publicised tips on how she evaded GST for luxury purchases fined $18k
  • Powerful quake in Southeast Asia kills several, 81 trapped in Bangkok building rubble
  • Dog dies after being skinned alive in Malaysia, animal welfare group condemns 'barbaric' act
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.