Congressional Democrats are set to introduce new legislation aimed at establishing a dedicated inspector general to oversee the Executive Office of the President—a move that sponsors say is essential to restoring public accountability in the highest levels of government, especially in the wake of controversies during Donald Trump’s presidency.
The bill, backed by Sen. Adam Schiff of California and Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, seeks to close what ethics watchdogs and legal experts have long identified as a glaring gap in federal oversight: the absence of an independent watchdog for the White House itself. While nearly every major federal agency has its inspector general to root out fraud, abuse, and misconduct, the Executive Office of the President—home to the president’s top advisors and key policy decision-makers—operates without such scrutiny.
Inspectors general conduct important independent oversight throughout different agencies in the executive branch. But the same is not true when it comes to the President and the White House—where there is no inspector general,” Schiff said. “That should change, regardless of who is in office.”
The renewed push comes with heightened urgency, sponsors say, following a pattern of behavior from former President Trump that they argue exposed serious weaknesses in executive branch accountability. During his time in office, Trump faced numerous accusations of ethics violations and conflicts of interest related to his business dealings—allegations he denied, asserting that his assets were managed independently by his children.
More notably, Trump’s mass dismissal of more than a dozen inspectors general at the start of his second term drew widespread condemnation. The firings triggered lawsuits and sparked fears that the administration was dismantling essential guardrails designed to ensure lawful conduct. Among those ousted was Hampton Dellinger, former head of the Office of Special Counsel, who told “60 Minutes” that his mission had always been about law, not politics: “I’m not looking to promote a president’s agenda or thwart it. I’m just trying to make sure the laws are followed.”
The Trump administration defended the firings, claiming the president has the legal authority to remove IGs at will. Trump later characterized the dismissals as “a very standard thing to do.”
Critics, however, argue that Trump’s pattern of replacing independent watchdogs with political loyalists severely weakened the federal oversight system. One of the most criticized appointments was that of Paul Ingrassia, a right-wing commentator and MAGA supporter, who was chosen to head the Office of Special Counsel—a decision that further fueled concerns about the politicization of nonpartisan oversight roles.
Supporters of the new legislation argue that the White House, with its hundreds of staffers and proximity to nearly every major policy decision in the country, should not be exempt from internal oversight.
“This is a vital check on executive power that is long overdue,” said DeLauro, who had previously introduced a similar bill in 2017 during Trump’s first term. That proposal, however, failed to advance beyond the House Oversight Committee.
Watchdog groups have echoed those calls for reform. Debra Perlin of Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington (CREW) noted that “the Executive Office of the President—the epicenter of federal policymaking and governance—lacks this key form of internal oversight, allowing corrupt actors at the highest levels of government to evade public accountability.”
Still, the bill faces daunting odds in the current political landscape. With Republicans controlling both the House and Senate, there is little expectation that the legislation will be brought to a vote. Many in the GOP view the effort as politically motivated, especially given Schiff’s high-profile role in Trump’s previous investigations.
Nonetheless, Democrats say the proposal is about institutional integrity, not partisanship. By introducing an inspector general role for the presidency, they hope to establish long-term safeguards that transcend political cycles and provide the public with greater confidence in the rule of law.
As the debate over executive power and accountability continues, the future of the bill remains uncertain. But for its supporters, the message is clear: no president, regardless of party, should be above independent scrutiny.
