Among the OGE’s most recent actions was issuance of a reminder about the restrictions against political appointees accepting compensation from outside sources. Image: Tada Images/Shutterstock.com
The director of the Office of Government Ethics has become the latest official fired by the Trump administration from key positions overseeing the federal workforce.
The firing of OGE director David Huitema—like the firing of Office of Special Counsel head Hampton Dellinger—was reportedly carried out in a brief email from the White House personnel office, with no explanation given. Huitema, formerly the senior ethics official at the State Department, was confirmed last fall for a five-year term.
Dellinger has filed suit to remain in the position, citing a law that a Special Counsel can be fired only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office” and that the White House cited no such grounds. Dellinger, also confirmed last year for a five-year term, has been granted a temporary stay while the judge considers that argument.
There has been no indication whether Huitema will file a challenge of his own.
Among the OGE’s most recent actions was issuance of a reminder about the restrictions against political appointees accepting compensation from outside sources. The White House has named VA secretary Doug Collins as the acting head of both that agency and the OSC.
The firing of Huitema and Dellinger, like those of nearly 20 agency inspectors general, have been denounced by good-government groups as undercutting key watchdog entities.
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