USDA Official Fired By Trump Refuses To Leave Until Security Steps In

Security had to intervene after a federal official refused to leave her office following her termination by President Donald Trump. Phyllis Fong, who had worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for 22 years, continued to show up for work on Monday despite being dismissed days earlier, according to reports.

Fong reportedly informed colleagues she did not recognize the legality of her firing and cited the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), which argued that the termination process did not comply with federal guidelines. The Trump administration rejected this claim, maintaining that the president has full authority to remove inspectors general.

When Fong refused to vacate her office, security officials escorted her from the building, though the USDA later stated she left on her own. Witnesses, however, say her departure followed a confrontation in which she insisted she was still the rightful inspector general.

The White House justified the removal, stating that federal agencies needed officials who would follow Trump’s policies rather than obstruct them. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, saying those dismissed were “partisan bureaucrats” who had been replaced with individuals committed to enforcing the law.

Fong’s role as inspector general involved conducting investigations into USDA operations, including issues related to food safety and agricultural oversight. Her termination was part of a broader effort by the administration to remove federal officials seen as resistant to Trump’s leadership.