The Stakes of Trump’s Executive Branch Shake-Up

Author’s note: This is the second of a two-part series on why President Trump’s firing of executive-agency inspectors general foreshadows a battle to restore constitutional norms — in particular, separation of powers and political accountability — that would threaten the administrative state as it exists after over a century of progressive governance. Part 1 is here.

In part 1 of this two-part series, I outlined the controversy over President Trump’s firing of executive-agency inspectors general in contravention of the removal terms in the statute — the Inspector General Act of 1978 — by which Congress created these IG positions. Here in part 2, I’ll address the constitutional stakes and why they are foundational to how our government works.

About the Author

Andrew C. McCarthy

Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow at National Review Institute, an NR contributing editor, and author of Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency.

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Author’s note: This is the second of a two-part series on why President Trump’s firing of executive-agency inspectors general foreshadows a battle to restore constitutional norms — in particular, separation of powers and political accountability — that would threaten the administrative state as it exists after over a century of progressive governance. Part 1 is here.

In part 1 of this two-part series, I outlined the controversy over President Trump’s firing of executive-agency inspectors general in contravention of the removal terms in the statute — the Inspector General Act of 1978 — by which Congress created these IG positions. Here in part 2, I’ll address the constitutional stakes and why they are foundational to how our government works.

About the Author

Andrew C. McCarthy

Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow at National Review Institute, an NR contributing editor, and author of Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency.