Phyllis Fong defied Donald Trump’s orders—Now she's been ousted. Did Elon Musk’s Neuralink play a role?
Phyllis Fong, the long-serving Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), was escorted out of her office this week after refusing to comply with her dismissal by the Trump administration. According to sources cited by Reuters, Fong informed her colleagues that she intended to remain in her position, arguing that the White House had not followed proper legal procedures in terminating her.
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Fong, who had been with the department for 22 years, challenged the legality of her removal, referencing an independent watchdog body that questioned the administration’s decision. Despite her objections, the White House defended its move, describing her and other removed officials as “rogue, partisan bureaucrats.”
Legal Dispute Over Dismissal
In an email reportedly reviewed by Reuters, Fong cited the independent Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), which stated that the termination notices did not meet legal requirements and were therefore ineffective. She wrote that the council “has taken the position that these termination notices do not comply with the requirements set out in law and therefore are not effective at this time.”
However, the White House dismissed these concerns, stating: “These rogue, partisan bureaucrats… have been relieved
