The Open LedgerA citizen’s reference · checked October 15, 2026

H-342 LivelihoodInstitutions

Inspectors general

Severity 2, Livelihood: measures what was taken from the people affected, not how loud the story was.

What was done

Between April 3 and May 15, 2020, he removed or replaced five inspectors general: Michael Atkinson (intelligence community), who had handled the Ukraine whistleblower complaint; Glenn Fine (acting, Defense), set to chair oversight of pandemic relief spending; Christi Grimm (acting, HHS), after a report on hospital shortages; Steve Linick (State); and Mitch Behm (acting, Transportation).

What the courts said

None.

His response

He said he lacked “the fullest confidence” in Atkinson and Linick, called Grimm’s report “just wrong,” said he fired Linick at Secretary Pompeo’s request, and said “every president has gotten rid of probably more than I have.” Experts quoted by PolitiFact said removals on this scale had no precedent.

Sources

  1. PolitiFact, May 19, 2020politifact.comhttps://www.politifact.com/article/2020/may/19/trump-has-pushed-out-5-inspectors-general-april-he/ #306

Status checked October 15, 2026. Court cases move; before relying on a pending matter, open the source for later developments.