Judge rules Trump broke the law

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00:00Judge Rules Trump Broke the Law

00:02A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump violated federal law when he fired nearly 20 inspectors general early in his term.

00:11However, News.com has learned that the judge lacks the authority to restore them to their positions.

00:17U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes found that Trump failed to comply with the Inspectors General Act,

00:22which requires presidents to give Congress 30 days' notice and a written explanation before firing an inspector general.

00:30President Trump violated the IGA.

00:32That much is obvious, Reyes wrote in her opinion.

00:35However, Reyes also noted that even if the inspectors general were reinstated,

00:40Trump could simply fire them again after providing the proper notice.

00:44The court's ruling hinged on whether the fired inspectors general had suffered irreparable harm,

00:49a legal standard required for reinstatement.

00:52Even assuming that the IGA comports with Article 2,

00:55Plaintiffs' inability to perform their duties for 30 days is not irreparable harm, she wrote.

01:01Moreover, if the IGs were reinstated,

01:04the president could lawfully remove them after 30 days by providing the required notice and rationale to Congress.

01:10The lawsuit, filed in March by eight of the dismissed officials,

01:14challenged Trump's early-term purge of watchdogs.

01:17Within days of taking office, the president had fired 17 inspectors general,

01:21each receiving only a short note citing presidential authority under Article 2 of the Constitution.

01:27While Reyes denied the request for an injunction,

01:30she expressed sympathy for the inspectors general,

01:32praising their service and the importance of their roles.

01:35They sacrificed much to take on the role of an IG.

01:37They deserved better from their government.

01:40They still do, she wrote.

01:42Unfortunately, this court cannot provide plaintiffs more.

01:44She concluded her opinion by concurring with the inspectors general's broader warning,

01:50writing,

01:50Yes, agreed.

01:52That weakening protections for government watchdogs is decidedly wrong

01:55and decidedly contrary to the public interest.