The former director of the Office of Government Ethics, who was abruptly fired days after being appointed by the former president Biden, said he is ready to work with the Trump administration, even though he had been appointed by the former president Biden.
David Huitema stated that he is willing to work with any administration for the remainder of his five-year mandate.
You know that you will be working in multiple administrations. Huitema was nominated in September 2023 by Mr. Biden and sworn into office on December 16, 2024. “I was dedicated for five years. I was determined to work in good faith, with any administration including this one. “I thought we had a great start.”
The Office of Government Ethics collects financial disclosures from public and confidential sources, ethics agreements, and other forms, and also receives them directly from government officials. This includes the President and his Cabinet. The purpose of the office is to prevent conflict of interest.
Huitema told CBS News in an interview that he received a termination notice in the form of a two sentence email. He was fired two weeks after President Trump had removed 17 inspectors from their positions as watchdogs.
Huitema stated that his dismissal “doesn’t appear to have been personal.” I’m in good company.”
Huitema stated that the move “really speaks of a concerted effort to dismantle the various institutions within the government which are in place to provide an independent voice of integrity and accountability.”
Doug Collins, an ex-congressman and current secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, was appointed acting director of OGE by Mr. Trump after firing Huitema.
Eight former inspectors-general who were fired have filed a lawsuit to challenge their dismissal. The group claims that their terminations were in violation of federal laws intended to prevent interference in their oversight duties.
Huitema hasn’t yet decided whether he will take legal action.
This is still all so new and unexpected for me. Huitema stated, “I have no idea where I am going next and I’m only just beginning to turn my thoughts in that direction.” “So, I’m not sure.”
Huitema reminded that the Office of Government Ethics had been created by Congress following the Watergate scandal, which led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. He said that the Office of Government Ethics was created by Congress after the Watergate scandal led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation.
Huitema stated, “I think it is true that my removal from this post goes against the vision of Congress.”
Walter Shaub quit as head of OGE less than a year following the inauguration of Mr. Trump for his first tenure in 2017. Shaub stated at the time, that the president’s administration had disregarded “the norms and ethical traditions that made our ethics program one of the best in the world”.
Huitema, are you worried about the failure of guardrails that protect government officials from conflict of interest?
“I don’t know. Huitema replied, “I guess I’ll be on the sidelines from now on.”
