he left DOJ to serve the same role for FDIC -
Veteran DOJ Watchdog’s Exit Spurs Fears of Lax Trump Oversight
June 27, 2025, 4:45 AM EDT
Ben Penn
Senior Reporter
The departure of the Justice Department’s longtime inspector general next week has former officials and other lawyers worried that an era of robust, independent oversight of law enforcement is ending at the worst possible moment.
Michael Horowitz’s move—after 13 years as DOJ’s top watchdog—to serve the same role at the Federal Reserve coincides with litigation over Trump’s mass inspector general firings at other agencies.
His still undetermined successor will face a growing pile of complaints seeking probes into top Justice Department officials and White House efforts to shrink the office’s budget by 28%. Some in the IG and whistleblower communities said they’re hoping that Horowitz’s veteran deputy could take over and try to maintain the office’s reputation for bipartisan accountability. Yet they’re pessimistic about its fate as the administration prioritizes fealty to Trump.
“Mr. Horowitz personified a public servant who followed the evidence wherever it led, regardless of political party,” said Tom Devine, legal director at the Government Accountability Project, which routinely represents whistleblowers cooperating with DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General. “He will be sorely missed because he will be the last credible official source of factfinding at the Department of Justice.”
Although OIG’s default succession plan would elevate deputy William Blier—a decadeslong OIG employee considered in lockstep with Horowitz—to the acting post, the White House or Attorney General Pam Bondi could instead install an interim IG from outside DOJ, before Trump nominates a permanent leader with an unlimited term. Devine, echoing a fear expressed by multiple department veterans, said he sees no reason to expect Bondi and Trump won’t install “a puppet.” Spokespeople for Bondi and Horowitz declined to comment.
(snip)
Apparently Blier is still there as Acting.
= new reply since forum marked as read