Judge rules Trump broke the law

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00:00Judge Rules Trump Broke the Law

00:03A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump violated federal law when he fired nearly

00:0720 inspectors general early in his term.

00:10However, the judge lacks authority to restore them.

00:14Federal judge says Trump broke the law.

00:16U.S. District Court Judge Honor Reyes found that Trump failed to comply with the Inspectors

00:21General Act , which requires presidents to give Congress 30 days notice and a written

00:26explanation before firing an inspector general.

00:30President Trump violated the IGA.

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

00:35And plaintiffs raised compelling arguments that the violation must be remedied through reinstatement

00:40to their positions.

00:42No irreparable harm, the judge ruled.

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

00:49harm, a legal standard required for reinstatement.

00:53Even assuming that the IGA comports with Article 2, plaintiffs' inability to perform their

00:58duties for 30 days is not irreparable harm, she wrote.

01:02Moreover, if the IGs were reinstated, the president could lawfully remove them after 30 days by

01:08providing the required notice and rationale to Congress.

01:12The Long-Running Tension Over Oversight

01:14Filed in March by eight dismissed officials, the lawsuit challenged Trump's early-term purge

01:20that saw 17 inspectors general fired within days of taking office.

01:25The plaintiffs argued that Trump's actions violated the spirit of the IGA and weakened

01:29public confidence and independent oversight.

01:32Judge expresses sympathy for the inspectors general.

01:35While Reyes denied the request for an injunction, she expressed sympathy for the inspectors general,

01:41praising their service and the importance of their roles.

01:44They sacrificed much to take on the role of an IG.

01:47They deserved better from their government.

01:49They still do, she wrote.

01:50Unfortunately, this court cannot provide plaintiffs more.

01:54Reyes did not rule on the plaintiffs' request for back pay, instead ordering further briefings.

01:59She concluded her opinion by concurring with the inspectors general's broader warning, writing,

02:04Reyes agreed, that weakening protections for government watchdogs is decidedly wrong and decidedly contrary to the public interest.

02:12Reyes agreed that weakening protections for government watchdogs is decidedly wrong and decidedly contrary to the public interest.