Trump removes independent watchdog for coronavirus funds, upending oversight panel

[KayF]

Source: Politico

President Donald Trump has upended the panel of federal watchdogs overseeing his implementation of the $2 trillion coronavirus law, tapping a replacement for the Pentagon official who was supposed to lead the effort.

A panel of inspectors general had named Glenn Fine — the acting Pentagon watchdog — to lead the group charged with monitoring the coronavirus relief effort. But Trump on Monday removed Fine from his post, instead naming an EPA inspector general to serve as the temporary Pentagon watchdog.

That decision effectively removed Fine from his role overseeing the coronavirus relief effort, since the new law permits only current inspectors general to fill the position.


“Mr. Fine is no longer on the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee,” Dwrena Allen, a spokesperson for the Pentagon inspector general's office, said in a statement to POLITICO.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/07/trump-removes-independent-watchdog-for-coronavirus-funds-upending-oversight-panel-171943

[flibbitygiblets]

1. Looks like Griftmas is coming early for the swampmonsters.

Our tax dollars are about to go to ...well, not us...

[pandr32]

2. They are looting our country

[ancianita]

31. +1

[OMGWTF]

32. In chaos they can steal.

[duforsure]

3. That didn't take long.

I think some are ahead of him, knowing he'd interfere, again. This may get interesting.

[ArizonaLib]

9. Practice makes perfect

This has been the longest 3 years I have ever known. I am 51 years old - time is supposed to be going faster at my age.

[MyOwnPeace]

17. Oh, yeah?

You can't imagine what it is like with IQ45 in there when you're in your 60's!

[ArizonaLib]

26. Can't argue with that!

Stay healthy!

[MyOwnPeace]

30. "Stay healthy!"

I am ACTIVELY working on it!

I intend to be alive to see that monstrous sack of ORANGE FECAL MATERIAL moved out of OUR White House, either by election or eviction!

As a bonus, I'd love to see his entire crime family put behind bars for the atrocities that have been committed by them upon the great people of these United States.

Should he "pass" before he gets his jail sentence, I am willing to wear a mask (who knows, they may still be required by then) while waiting in line to "make a deposit" on his grave.

[ArizonaLib]

54. Great motivation for us all!

[DENVERPOPS]

4. Get used to this America......

This is an everyday occurrence in Russia, and other Fascist dictatorships and tyrannies......

[whathehell]

51. You get used to it..

I don't live in a fascist dictatorship, and have no intention if doing so.

[DENVERPOPS]

58. Well then WTH

I politely disagree, but I am all ears on how to reverse what is going on right now, right here, in the U.S.

Cabal, anyone?

[Bengus81]

55. Hey Bernie call it QUITS today,we need to MOVE on this thug right now!!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. He's already nominated someone else for the slot.

Approval by the Senate will take some time.

Five Nominations Sent to the Senate; April 6, 2020

All inspectors general, including one for the CIA.

NOMINATIONS & APPOINTMENTS

Five Nominations Sent to the Senate
Issued on: April 6, 2020

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Jason Abend, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of Defense, vice Jon T. Rymer, resigned.

Katherine A. Crytzer, of Tennessee, to be Inspector General of the Tennessee Valley Authority, vice Richard W. Moore, resigned.

Andrew A. De Mello, of Massachusetts, to be Inspector General, Department of Education, vice Kathleen S. Tighe, resigned.

Brian D. Miller, of Virginia, to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. (New Position)

Peter Michael Thomson, of Louisiana, to be Inspector General, Central Intelligence Agency, vice David B. Buckley, resigned.

Trump taps longtime GSA watchdog as coronavirus relief inspector general

CORONAVIRUS

Trump taps longtime GSA watchdog as coronavirus relief inspector general

Brian Miller spent nearly 10 years as the inspector general of the General Services Administration.

By KYLE CHENEY

04/03/2020 09:58 PM EDT

Updated: 04/04/2020 01:20 PM EDT

President Donald Trump plans to tap Brian Miller, a White House lawyer and former federal watchdog, to oversee the new $500 billion coronavirus relief fund housed in the Treasury Department.

Miller, who joined Trump's office of White House counsel after a stint in the private sector, spent nearly 10 years as the inspector general of the General Services Administration, where he handled a string of high-profile waste, fraud and abuse cases — including an investigation of a lavish Las Vegas conference hosted by the GSA in 2010.

{snip}

Upon confirmation, Miller will be watched closely because he's tasked with the most direct role in monitoring Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin as he doles out the $500 billion to distressed industries, businesses and local governments. Congress included a provision requiring the new inspector to report directly to lawmakers if he or she is "unreasonably" blocked from accessing information. But Trump indicated he intends to ignore that provision, calling it an unconstitutional imposition by Congress on the executive branch.

Rather, Trump said, the decision to share such information with Congress would be up to him.

Though inspectors general technically serve as executive branch officials, they typically occupy an independent lane insulated from politics. Trump's pick of a current White House lawyer, despite his history as an inspector general, quickly raised alarms for some worried about Miller's independence from the president.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi sharply rejected Miller’s selection, saying the new watchdog must have independence from the White House.

{snip}

[jimfields33]

14. Can nancy do anything?

Problem is the senate decides it appears. What a mess.

[MyOwnPeace]

18. Oh, great!

Just what we need - another "ACTING!"

[bluestarone]

6. So it ALL changed this easy?

What the holy fuck!! What is the sense of trusting ANY of these ASSHOLES??

[RKP5637]

8. The country is under siege, and yes, tRump is the wartime president, the war against America led by

Donald J. tRump!

[ArizonaLib]

12. We went from Gingrich's contract on America to

Trump's war on America.

[Ferrets are Cool]

15. Not much different...this is just more in your face. nt

[RKP5637]

22. Yep, exactly! n/t

[MyOwnPeace]

27. Got it!

With one you do a gangster thing - put out a contract.
With the other, you just pick an enemy and declare war!

[JudyM]

66. This. A straight, bold line from one to the other. Increasingly bold.

[keithbvadu2]

7. Blatant, brazen corruption right out in the open.

Blatant, brazen corruption right out in the open.

Hand picked.

[RKP5637]

10. And his ignorant stupid herd loves him as he destroys America, and eventually them too. n/t

[OMGWTF]

34. My (soon-to-be-former) BFF of 36 years just posted on her FB page:

"Stop picking on the president during this crisis. Grow up!" I get that she is in a cult, but I can't fking take it any more. I have no longer have any respect or feelings for her.

[NoRoadUntravelled]

42. The relationships that have unravelled because of him have caused a lot of pain.

My sister and I were each other's support system for a lifetime. We're both in our 60s now. tRump's election changed everything.

She's convinced that Dems have had a vendetta against the Liar's Liar since he was elected, that he's done nothing wrong and God is working through him to save the country and save our souls. She believes we're the ones holding him back from doing good works and that if we'd back off, God would use him to save us from ourselves.

I finally realized there's nothing I can say to change her mind. Nothing he's done troubles her. Reminds me of the cults from the 70s. And it seems to have gotten worse over time.

It's heartbreaking. We don't communicate any longer except to check in to see if we're still alive. I'm sad every time I think of it.

[chia]

53. In a similar situation. I said better if we don't talk politics. She forged ahead. I called Trump

an asshole. She said he was doing a good job, I said he was doing a terrible, corrupted and inept job and would've explained why, but she hung up on me.

We're still sisters, we worked our way past that day, but I don't think she'll bring Trump again, nor do I think she'll ever understand why the corrupt pile of crap is the worst president we've ever had, how his administration is full of grifters and incompetents, or the damage the GOP has inflicted on this country. That makes me sad.

[DENVERPOPS]

65. My wife has one of those friends!

They have been the closest of friends for going on 55 years. Her Trumpworshipping friend told my wife last week, that she can't believe how stupid she is, and hung up on her..............(Ironically, this Trumphumping girl friend of hers barely graduated from high school, but my wife has two undergraduate degrees and two graduate degrees...LOL)

WASF

[pat_k]

64. So, not subject to Congressional scrutiny (signing statement)...

.. along with oversight by a sycophant ensures they can get away with making sure the CARES paycheck protection program distributes funds to the biggest "small" businesses first, before the funds run out, leaving thousands upon thousands of independent contractors and smaller business applying for incredibly modest amounts shit out of luck.

Life in Trumpworld.

[Varaddem]

11. Welcome to the Third World America

[Ferrets are Cool]

13. The King has spoken.

We are a fucking shadow of a democracy now. Maybe we always were and it wasn't being rubbed in our faces. But now, we know for fucking sure.

[Newest Reality]

16. Well, well, well...

El Presidente's regime is rolling in faster than I expected. That is one thing he has really been WORKING HARD on since he oozed into the White House.

So, what then do we do with Dear Leader now that his regime is sacking what's left and ready to pound down on us with an iron fist of Fascist delights? Who gets the boot to the face next? How big does the boot get.

Benito did say he would return just before the people did justice on him.

[Voltaire2]

19. Another day another impeachable offense.

And the Senate Republicans will refuse to do anything.

There is no floor, no line to cross.

[notdarkyet]

47. Half should be arrested immediately for buying stock on cv right before it came. Lock them up.

[Firestorm49]

20. As we slowly become a fascist state. And who's going to do anything about it?

One can only get so frustrated and angry but eventually we have to accept the fact that this scam of an administration is in fact above the law. Nothing will get done about ignoring legally served subpoenas. Nothing will get done to stop corrupt elections. Nothing can stop the power grabbing that Skippy Walker in Wisconsin showed could be done. Nothing is being done about the disastrous national pandemic response besides passing on the guilt. And, nothing will be done about what's his name siphoning the pandemic money to his favorites in the cabal. He has no shame, no guilt, no conscience and should be tried as a war criminal.

So, on the count of three, let's all fall to our knees and pray like a mother f.....er that our vote might have a chance to be counted this November. It seems nothing else is working.

Honestly, I don't want to be a bad tooth, but it sure seems like we're spitting into the wind. I'd really like to see a glimmer of hope that justice and whatever we will call the new normality returns to America.

[FiveGoodMen]

38. We can't reason with the Nazis

We can't count on votes being accurately counted.

We can't stop propaganda because we've decided that lies are fair game and protected speech.

There's only one way to stop them.

WWII was an example.

[cheezmaka]

62. I'm praying with you all

Our Country desperately needs it...

[machoneman]

21. I mean, how could Nancy and Chuck have NOT seen this coming? I mean, come on, there was nothing...

they could do to prevent Trump from doing his worst to upend the relief effort?

Short of NOT approving any monies at all? Hard to believe we fell into his trap so, so easily.

[Thekaspervote]

36. That's been my thought all along. I just can't imagine madam speaker or Schumer were so

Easily hoodwinked.

Congress holds purse strings..is that the case here?

Certainly Schumer and madam speaker have been quiet about this since he announced his intentions at the signing.

[NYC Liberal]

43. Yes, the last option was not approving it at all.

Then the entire thing would be blamed on Democrats.

Republicans control the Senate. Can't get around that.

[Cozmo]

23. Didn't we already realize this "stimulus package" was a hoax from the get go?

Don't hold your breath for that $1200 deposit either. It's probably already in someone's pocket and it appears that Congress has been taken once again.

'I'm the Last Thing Standing Between You and the Apocalypse ...

[FailureToCommunicate]

24. The 'wartime' President makes his next move in this chess game. We're so screwed.

He and the Republican minion zombies supporters, with Putin's help and great pleasure, have taken over our democracy without firing a shot.

[OMGWTF]

37. No shots fired; but many are dead. I just know Shitler is taking his orders from Putin.

[ananda]

25. They're not even pretending to be decent anymore!

nt

[2naSalit]

28. Two thoughts...

We MUST get rid of this cabal asap, by any means.

What if we just don't get the economy back up and running?

A general strike was what I was guessing might come into being by summer, now we are already shut down so what if WE aren't ready to get back to business as usual? I think part of the idea of putting everything on hold as much as possible was to give us a chance to willingly keep it all shut down regardless of the R's wishes. Keeping it all shut down for even a few weeks longer could just send shitforbrains over the edge.

Most of all, we have to make sure everyone is convinced that they are trying to kill America and kill us since that's what it will take.

[captain jack]

29. Made 2 trillion available to a man with a gambling addiction who only knows how to lose. n/t

[40RatRod]

33. No Problem!

He was just an acting watchdog. Trump's whole administration is "acting" including Trump and Pence.

[NoMoreRepugs]

35. Rump, little jared and princess ivanka are about to

become actual billionaires.

This is going to get very very UGLY.

[CaptainTruth]

39. Yet another reason why our fight against Trump must continue after he leaves office.

He's so arrogant, he thinks he can get away with anything.

Trump & his kind are a devious cancer on our country & he must be utterly destroyed. A fitting end for him is bankrupt & in prison.

[FpjDU]

40. Why

The Orange Moron Inept Dishonest Grifter Con Man is ripping America and Its Constitution apart. Day by Day, by Month by Month, and year by year. This MUST end. November can not get here fast enough.

[William Seger]

41. "It's OUR money," explained Jared.

[keithbvadu2]

60. You forgot to say 'sarcasm'.

You forgot to say 'sarcasm'.

Oh, wait. You got it correctly.

[LiberalFighter]

44. If the Inspector General is there to provide oversight for Congress...

It should be Congress doing the appointing.

[AdamGG]

45. Is there any way Congress can pass a law to create additional oversight?

Nancy maybe should have held out longer. The person from the EPA that Trump is installing is surely a fossil fuel lobbyist and corrupt Trump puppet.

[SWBTATTReg]

46. And the democratic leaders that pushed this bill should have considered that this could happen...

did they include a provision in the bill preventing such a thing? That oversight of these funds was crucial? If they didn't, why did they allow this bill to go forward?

[bucolic_frolic]

48. Insisting no oversight is a Ten Alarm Fire

He's planning to steal, grift, waste, privatize, corrupt with those funds. There is no reason to be so obstinate about no oversight except graft.

[SunSeeker]

49. Trump intends on doing some epic looting. nt

[Hekate]

50. "It's beginning to look a lot like Griftmas, everywhere we go...."

Certain powers must be removed from the Presidency. Actually, it is no doubt already illegal -- he does everything in plain sight.

[vapor2]

52. CLEARLY, our country is fucked

by this crime family and yes, they will pocket this money. Can't anyone stop them????

[FiveGoodMen]

57. "Can't anyone stop them????"

Not with strongly worded letters.

Is anyone in power willing/able to do more?

[Thekaspervote]

56. speaker Pelosi has weighed in, seems congress does have oversight on how the money is spent

The President’s violation of oversight appears to be a reaction to Congressional Democrats transforming the CARES Act from corporations-focused to workers-first, requiring that taxpayer dollars given to industry go to workers’ paychecks and benefits, not be used for CEO bonuses, stock buybacks or dividends. We will continue to exercise our oversight to ensure that this historic investment of taxpayer dollars is being used wisely and efficiently to help workers and families.”

Link to tweet

?s=21

[riversedge]

59. I have rage today. just plain rage.

[Maxheader]

61. Should have seen that coming...

just as soon as stumpy brought in its kid in law..The little brown smelly will
have a hand in directing the emergency funds into his daddy's pockets...

[pat_k]

63. How many want to bet that...

... the applications for relief under the Cares paycheck protection program that are for the largest amounts are processed first?

I'd bank on it.

When a review is done -- and it will eventually be done -- it will find that they ensured the biggest "small" businesses got their piece of the pie before the funds run out, leaving thousands upon thousands of independent contractors and smaller business applying for very modest amounts shit out of luck.