On May 15, 2020 President Trump fired the nonpartisan inspector general of the State Department. This is the fifth inspector general Trump has fired in the past two months. Trump’s firing of five inspectors general continues a pattern of behavior intended to shield the presidency from oversight and should be deeply troubling to all Americans. Congress must hold the Trump administration accountable for these unprecedented and unethical firings. The following are excerpts from a portion of the letters written in response to MWEG’s call to action on this issue.

Dear Senator Michael Bennet, Senator Cory Gardner, Representative Diana DeGette, and Representative Joseph Neguse,

I am a constituent and a registered Democrat. I am writing to you because I am concerned about President Trump’s firing of five Inspectors General in less than two months. Particularly troubling about the president’s purge of these watchdogs is the fact that, of the five inspectors general President Trump has fired, four were investigating, or had recently released documentation of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of federal government resources. 

The president’s firing of these inspectors general continues a worrisome pattern of behavior intended to shield the presidency from oversight and should be deeply troubling to all Americans. Congress must hold the Trump administration accountable for these unprecedented and unethical firings. I urge you to also ensure that current investigations being carried out by these inspectors can continue unimpeded.

I fear for my country, and I see the protection the constitution offers us being eroded more and more with Trump’s actions.

Lauren (Colorado)

I am a constituent and a registered Democrat. I cannot stand silently by while our president takes these capricious actions to shield himself from accountability. I am so concerned for our country with all that is happening with the lack of leadership from Trump on the corona virus response, his lack of understanding and empathy regarding Black Lives Matter and their historic movement at this pivotal moment, and an overall disregard for honesty and truth. He MUST be checked by the  people who are charged with this duty. He should not be able to fire them without repercussion. The investigations into Trump’s abuses of power must go on.

Tracy (Colorado)

I am a constituent and a registered Democrat. I am extremely concerned about the lack of checks and balances over this unethical and dangerous administration.

Kay (Colorado)

Dear Senator Mike Lee, Senator Mitt Romney, Representative John Curtis, Representative Robert Bishop, Representative Ben McAdams, and Representative Chris Stewart,

I am a constituent and a registered Republican. This is just one more of a long string of dangerous actions by the madman in the Oval Office. We keep thinking “it can’t get any worse,” but it does. As Senator Romney recently said, “Enough is enough.” I’ve been a member of the GOP all of my adult life, but I can no longer do this in good conscience with what has happened since the last presidential campaign and election. Please, please represent us in restoring order and decency to our republic. If Mr. Trump is reelected, I will change to Independent political status. I feel dirty being in a party that supports him.

Charles (Utah)

I am a constituent and a registered Republican. I cannot continue to stand by and watch the unethical and unconstitutional behavior that come from this administration. Please help stop these abuses of power.

Lisa (Utah)

I am a constituent and a registered Republican. We have to maintain checks and balances in our government. It is imperative to maintain public trust. It is time to put the people and country first and do the right thing.
 
Catherine (Utah)

I am a constituent and a registered Democrat. I am 68 years old and I have never seen anything like what is going on today.  I despise Donald Trump but I have lost respect for a Congress that is allowing our democracy to erode in such a way.  Please act with courage and concern for our country before it is too late. History will take note.

Arlene (Utah)

I am a constituent and a registered Republican. As a federal employee myself, I know how serious it is to misuse funds. Our president should be held to a minimum of the same standards. It is important that we take action against those things that seem or are knowingly wrong. Change can’t happen without those willing to step up.

Tara (Utah)

I am a constituent and a registered Republican. I appreciate your urgent attention to this matter as I feel it is an important issue and has a direct impact on the underlying integrity of our government and country that I love.

Stacee (Utah)

Please don’t allow our country to lose the foundations on which it was founded. We need checks and balances in place to keep dictators and tyrants from taking over.

Terra (Utah)

I am a constituent and an independent voter. Please protect our democracy and stop the abuse of power by our president.  It is your duty to do so.  Thank you.

Sandra (Utah)

I am a constituent and a registered Republican. I am deeply alarmed at the rapidly devolving state of our democratic republic.  It seems all checks and balances are being ignored or over-ridden.

Alice (Utah)

I am a constituent and a registered Republican. Our inspectors general need to be protected so they can do the job they were hired to do, without fear of losing their jobs if the president does not feel they are loyal to him.  They are to be loyal to the country, not to the president.

Barbara (Utah)

It is critical you, as member of Congress, as part of your oath of office take the necessary steps to ensure our democracy is protected. All presidents, regardless of party require this oversight. Please do what is right and necessary.

Erin (Utah)

Dear Senator McSally, Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Representative Debbie Lesko, Representative Andy Biggs, and Representative Greg Stanton,

I am a constituent and an independent voter. Please have the courage to stand up for our country and our Constitution to protect it for us and future generations. There is nothing more important for you to do in Washington right now than to defend this nation from those who seek to destroy it and use it for their own gain.

Barbara (Arizona)

Please don’t keep your head in the sand. This is a national emergency..

Debora (Arizona)

I am a constituent and an independent voter. I love this country and the freedom it represents. Please protect it from corruption and uphold the checks and balances put in place to ensure that no one is above the law, not even the president.

Christy (Arizona)

In order to maintain transparency and integrity within our government having oversight by inspectors general is imperative.

Emily (Arizona)

Dear Senator Mazie Hirono, Brian Schatz, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard

I am a constituent and a registered Democrat. Oversight of our government is an important component of the voice of the people for liberty and justice.

Evelyn (Hawaii)

Dear Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Charles Schumer, and Representative Antonio Delgado

I am a constituent and a registered Democrat. This is yet another assault on the rule of law. I don’t want a king! I know you have so many grave responsibilities on your plate, but please don’t let this attack on IGs slip by uncontested. Thank you.

Kristina (New York)

Dear Senator Michael Crapo, Senator James Risch, and Representative Russell Fulcher,

I am deeply concerned that this administration is being allowed to govern unchecked. This is not how a democracy works.

Melissa (Idaho)

I am a constituent and proud Idahoan. The integrity of our United States government leaders is crucial to our democracy and to our position as a world leader. Without that integrity we are just another oligarchy. Please do the right thing and protect this country.

Nancy (Idaho)

I am a constituent and an independent voter. This is something that has to be taken seriously.  It is your responsibility to keep the balance of governmental powers in check!

Amy (Idaho)

My top priority as a voter is to support integrity in our public leaders and systems. Please demonstrate the leadership that this country deserves and choose to follow this path of integrity.

Summer (Idaho)

Dear Senator John Cornyn, Senator Ted Cruz, Representative Michael Burgess, and Representative Bill Flores,

Power can corrupt.  Even the best people can fall victim.  It is up to us to guard against that.  I will vote for public servants that believe in truth and fair dealing.  I will not be silent while our beautiful country falls prey to unobstructed greed and profiteering.

Amy (Texas)

I am a constituent and a registered Republican. Please help protect democracy in our country.

Melissa (Texas)

Dear Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Kamala Harris, Representative Julia Brownley, and Representative Thomas McClintock,

I love this country and it was founded on righteous principles to protect and defend our freedoms! These freedoms need to be protected and that’s why we must defend against the actions our current president has taken and unwind the corruptions taking place!

Tamara (California)

I am deeply troubled by the pattern of firing inspectors general within the Trump administration. I believe that ethical oversight is integral for a functioning democracy by ensuring fidelity to the voters and the principles of freedom. Thank you for your continued commitment to the vision of an ethical government.

Amanda (California)

Dear Senator Maria Cantwell, Senator Patty Murray, Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler, Representative Denny Heck, and Representative Adam Smith,

I am a constituent and a registered Democrat. We need to hold our government to account and uphold the integrity of the incredible democracy we are privileged to be a part of.

Alison (Washington)

Please, be brave.  We must fight for a functioning government!

Jennifer (Washington)

I am a constituent and an independent voter. We cannot allow these outrageous actions to continue unchecked.

LuAnn (Washington)

Dear Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Ronald Wyden, and Representative Earl Blumenauer,

I am a constituent and an independent voter. I feel such frustration with the Trump administration.  Those who continue to turn away and not stand up for the rules and laws of our dear country are doing all of us a disservice.  Please start calling this presidency on the decay of our country.

Diane (Oregon)

Dear Senator Benjamin Cardin, Senator Christopher Van Hollen, and Representative John Sarbanes,

I am a constituent and an independent voter. I realize that there is, at some level, a reason the president can fire these people. But, he is supposed to provide justification for those firings.  I am DEEPLY concerned that these individuals seem to have been doing their jobs, but because Trump or his political appointees have been on the receiving end of oversight, the oversight was simply removed.  We are supposed to have a system of checks and balances. A system of oversight. I worry that it is being eroded.

Alysia (Maryland)

Dear Senator Deb Fischer, Senator Ben Sasse, and Representative Don Bacon,

As a former U.S. Air Force spouse, wife, mother, and mental health counselor who loves our country and has hope in protecting democracy for generations to come, I call upon you to stand up for our country now. We must speak up for what is ethical. The political party of our current president is not the problem. The problem is unethical behavior by a person who holds the most powerful position in the world. His behavior must be ethical and kept in check to preserve our democracy and to preserve a future America for generations to come.

Amie (Nebraska)

I am a constituent and a registered Democrat. I am a young voter, and grew up in a military family with a great love and respect for our country. As my elected officials, I hope you will act quickly to ensure that our democracy is protected. President Trump does not represent the Republican Party or the American people well. He must be stopped to ensure that our liberties are protected. Please stand up to him, and do the right thing for the people of Nebraska.

Sebrina (Nebraska)

Dear Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Senator Jacklyn Rosen, and Representative Susie Lee,

I don’t want to set a precedent that allows a president to dismiss this many inspectors general without some investigation as to why.

Terra (Nevada)

Dear Senator Richard Burr, Senator Thom Tillis, and Representative George Butterfield,

I have never been more concerned for the future of our country. I believe that a lack of action on this would set a precedent of corruption and decimate the checks and balances of our government.

Ruth (North Carolina)