United States | Watchdogs in the doghouse

Donald Trump’s war on inspectors general

The president likes to rid himself of troublesome IGs

|WASHINGTON, DC

BACK AT THE beginning of April, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report, based on a survey of hospital administrators across America, showing that hospitals were struggling to obtain covid-19 tests, personal protective equipment (PPE) and routine supplies such as loo paper. This did not please the president. At a press conference the same day, he mused, “It’s wrong…Where did he come from—the inspector general (IG)? What’s his name?” Her name was Christi Grimm, and on the evening of May 1st Mr Trump nominated her replacement.

This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Watchdogs in the doghouse”

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