Politics

This is how Congress politicizes fraud and waste

New data reveal rising interest and a partisan split

This past May, the Trump administration’s decision to fire five government watchdogs — including Michael Atkinson who oversaw the Intelligence Community — was met with widespread criticism. These “inspector general” (IG) positions were intended to be free from politics to keep an eye on government fraud and abuse, and previous presidents have usually adhered to this norm of political independence.