Michael Missal, inspector general for the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time, listens during a House hearing in 2019. Missal was one of more than a dozen federal inspectors general fired by President Donald Trump. (Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Michael Missal, inspector general at the Department of Veterans Affairs since 2016, was one of more than a dozen inspectors general fired by President Donald Trump.
The Friday night purge included inspectors general at the departments of agriculture, education, labor, transportation, state and Robert Storch at the Defense Department.
Missal oversaw a staff of more than 1,100 auditors, investigators, inspectors and data analysts across the nation.
The terminations make room for better qualified individuals “who will uphold the rule of law and protect democracy,” according to a statement from a White House official, who did not provide his or her name.
Missal was former President Barack Obama’s pick for VA inspector general during his second term. With an annual budget of $369 billion, the VA is the federal government’s second-largest department after the Defense Department.
An inspector general conducts investigations and audits into potential malfeasance, fraud, waste or abuse by a government agency or its personnel and issues reports and recommendations on its findings. An inspector general’s office is intended to operate independently. There are 74 inspectors general across the federal government.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, slammed the Trump administration for Missal’s removal.
Blumenthal described the firing as a betrayal of trust.
“This reckless, reprehensible firing should prompt bipartisan congressional action to assure that a watchdog is safeguarding veterans’ rights,” he said.
The VA serves more than 9 million veterans and operates the nation’s largest integrated health care system with more than 400,000 employees, according to the agency.
Blumenthal also questioned the legality of the swift removal of the inspectors general. Blumenthal pointed to a 2022 law that Congress passed requiring a 30-day notice before removing an inspector general. The president also must provide a reason for the termination under the law.
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., lauded Missal’s service overseeing investigations of VA programs during former President Joe Biden’s administration and Trump’s first term. Takano said he is concerned Trump will install an inspector general who lacks independence from the White House.
But Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday on Meet the Press that he is not overly worried about the removals.
“This is not the first time that [a president] has come in and put in his own team. You need people in your administration that reflect your views,” he said.
Graham also said Trump might have technically violated the law but has the authority to make choices for inspectors general.
A VA notice posted online Monday with Missal’s biography stated he was no longer with the department and his webpage was being maintained for archival purposes.
Missal’s work involved overseeing regular inspections at all VA clinics and medical centers, which number about 1,200 facilities. He also was the chairman of the Investigations Committee of the Council of Inspectors General. The council is an independent body that is part of the executive branch and composed of all the inspectors general.
Missal previously served as senior counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement.
