Senator Markey Questions SBA Inspector General Nominee on Trump Administration's IG Firings

Inspector General's Role and Independence

• 🎯 The nominee, William Kirk, agreed that an Inspector General (IG) must be neutral and independent, like an umpire, to oversee the Small Business Administration (SBA) by adhering to the law.
• 💡 Kirk stated his job would be to "call balls and strikes," emphasizing the importance of impartiality in the IG role.

Questions on Presidential Firings of IGs

• ❓ Senator Markey questioned Kirk about President Trump's dismissal of the previous SBA IG, Mike Wear, and other IGs in January, asking if the President complied with the Inspector General Act of 1978.
• 📜 The Act requires the President to communicate in writing the substantive rationale, including detailed reasons, to both houses of Congress at least 30 days before removal or transfer.
• ⚖️ Kirk repeatedly stated that questions regarding the legality of these firings were inappropriate to answer as they are currently involved in pending litigation.

Inquiry into Prior Work and Legal Compliance

• 🔍 Markey also asked Kirk about his former supervisor, Shawn O'Donnell, who was also dismissed by President Trump, inquiring if there was a legitimate reason for his firing and if it was lawful.
• 🚫 Kirk again declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation surrounding these matters.

Concerns About SBA and Department of Education Actions

• 📈 Senator Markey raised concerns about the role of "Doge" within the SBA since January and whether their actions have complied with the law.
• 🏛️ Markey also questioned the legality of a proposed move to transfer the $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to the SBA without congressional authorization and whether it's lawful for the President to "wind down" the Department of Education without congressional approval.
• 🤷 Kirk stated he was not aware of any role he had in decisions regarding the Department of Education, noting he arrived in March and many decisions predated his arrival.