Reuters learned exclusively Phyllis Fong, the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), was escorted from her office on Monday after being fired by President Donald Trump.
Fong was one of the 17 general inspectors from federal agencies that Trump fired, according to Food Safety Magazine reports.
Sources told Reuters Fong had spoken with co-workers about her plans to return to the office after being fired on Friday. She didn’t believe the Trump administration had followed proper protocol when they fired her.
Fong spent 22 years at the USDA. According to Food Safety Magazine, she launched an internal investigation at the USDA after a listeriosis outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats. The investigation tried to determine where the USDA failed in its handling of repeated violations at Boar’s Head facility in Virginia.
Reuters said Fong declined to comment. The White House issued to Reuters, saying “these rogue, partisan bureaucrats… have been relieved of their duties in order to make room for qualified individuals who will uphold the rule of law and protect Democracy.”
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