Senator Peters Questions Trump Nominee T. March Bell on Inspector General Role

Role of the Inspector General

• 🎯 The Inspector General (IG) is described as a watchdog, tasked with holding administrations accountable, not acting as a cheerleader.
• 💡 An IG's opening statement should not express excitement to be a cheerleader for an administration, but rather a commitment to oversight.

Nominee's Opening Statement

• 📜 T. March Bell, nominee for Inspector General of HHS, pledged to support President Trump and Secretary Kennedy's "courageous and innovative change of direction."
• ❓ Senator Peters questioned the unusual nature of these statements from a nominee for an IG position.

Interpretation of "Initiatives"

• ✅ Bell clarified that "initiatives" refer to improving healthcare delivery, ensuring compliance with federal statutes, and making Medicare/Medicaid viable.
• 🔍 These also include rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, which he believes align with good government practices announced by the administration.
• ⚖️ Bell cited the IG statute, which calls for cooperation, understanding congressional intent, and the ability to initiate investigations independently.

Independence and Accountability

• ⚠️ Peters pressed Bell on whether he would refuse a directive from President Trump to stop an investigation.
• 🗣️ Bell stated he has no experience with presidents asking for unethical or illegal actions and would call "balls and strikes without secretly wearing a jersey for the pitcher or the batter," if confirmed.

Recusal from Prior Work

• 💼 Regarding Bell's partisan work as a senior advisor to USDA, Peters questioned his ability to conduct nonpartisan oversight and asked if he would recuse himself from matters he personally worked on.
• ⚖️ Bell committed to following all federal laws, regulations, and guidance, and consulting with IG council and the office of compliance and integrity to ensure the integrity of his work.