
Security personnel escorted a federal official out of her office after she refused to accept her termination by President Donald Trump. Phyllis Fong, the longtime Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), resisted the administration’s decision to remove her, choosing instead to continue working into the following week.
Fong was among multiple inspectors general dismissed by Trump on Friday as part of a broad effort to remove entrenched bureaucrats across federal agencies. Despite her termination, she informed colleagues that she would not vacate her office, claiming the dismissal did not follow the proper procedures.
THIS is what WINNING looks like 🏆
Security physically REMOVED USDA Phyllis Fong as she refused to accept that she was FIRED by President Trump. pic.twitter.com/rTbHgjBPJH
— Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) January 29, 2025
By Monday, her refusal to leave resulted in security being called to escort her from the premises. While the USDA later claimed that she left on her own, sources familiar with the situation stated that she initially resisted the order.
USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong is out.
She led the department that was informed of fraud in the Feeding Our Future program—a $250 million scheme that took funds from hungry children—and did NOT act.
— House Committee on Education & Workforce (@EdWorkforceCmte) January 27, 2025
The White House stood by the firings, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirming that the administration had the right to replace federal officials. She dismissed concerns over legal challenges, stating that the president’s authority in this matter was clear.
BREAKING: USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong was reportedly escorted out of her office by security after she refused to leave after President Trump fired her.
Bye bye 👋 pic.twitter.com/ZClXI38Zpr
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 29, 2025
Fong’s role at the USDA involved oversight of department operations, including food safety investigations and regulatory compliance. She had held her position since the George W. Bush administration and was one of 17 inspectors general removed as part of Trump’s restructuring of government agencies.
They had to perp walk Phyllis Fong because she refused to accept that elections have consequences. The People have spoken! Get up out of there, Phyllis.
pic.twitter.com/UVd6DbZcEp— Moe Dimanche (@MoeDimanche) January 29, 2025