Fired Watchdog Backs Trump's Right to Clean House

The drama surrounding President Donald Trump's second term just got a surprising twist. Eric Soskin, a government watchdog fired by Trump at the start of his second administration, has thrown his support behind the president's authority to oust him and 16 other inspectors general. Yes, you read that right—he's defending the very action that led to his own firing.

Soskin, who served as the inspector general for the U.S. Department of Transportation, was appointed by Trump during his first term. However, just four days after Trump reclaimed the Oval Office, Soskin was let go. Instead of joining a lawsuit filed by eight of his fellow ousted IGs, Soskin filed a legal brief supporting Trump's executive authority to clean house. His attorney, Jeff Beelaert, explained, "Eric wanted to make it clear that he disagreed with his former colleagues."

Trump's sweeping decision to purge watchdogs across 17 federal agencies has sparked intense criticism, not to mention a lawsuit seeking to reverse the firings. But Soskin's amicus brief argues that Trump's actions are fully within his constitutional rights under Article II, Supreme Court precedent, and updated federal policies. The brief takes aim at the watchdogs' reliance on the 1930s-era Humphrey's Executor case, which they argue limits presidential removal powers. Soskin's team counters that this precedent applies only to specific types of commissions and not inspectors general.

Critics have also pointed to Trump's failure to give Congress a 30-day notice before making the terminations. While past regulations required such notice, updates to the Inspector General Act in 2022 now only mandate a "substantive rationale" for firings. The White House has defended the decision, citing "changing priorities" as the reason for the shake-up.

The lawsuit challenging the firings faces an uphill battle. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes has already denied the plaintiffs' request for emergency relief, signaling skepticism about their broader case. The plaintiffs are set to appear in D.C. court next week, but unless they bring new, compelling evidence, their chances of success look slim.

As Beelaert put it, "At the end of the day, this drives home the idea that elections matter." He emphasized that the president—regardless of political party—should have the authority to choose their administration team. "Whether it's President Trump or President Biden, the president should be allowed to pick who is going to serve," he said. It's a sentiment that feels particularly poignant amid the ongoing tug-of-war over executive power.

Love him or hate him, Trump certainly knows how to keep the spotlight on himself. And Soskin's unexpected defense of his former boss is just the latest chapter in the never-dull saga of the Trump administration.