Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Overnight Defense: Top admiral says 'no condition' where US should conduct nuclear test 'at this time' | Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings Pelosi must go — the House is in dire need of new leadership MORE (D-Calif.) on Tuesday condemned President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE's “sudden” replacement of the inspector general for the Pentagon.

Pelosi called the removal of acting Inspector General Glenn Fine a part of the president’s “disturbing pattern of retaliation” against “independent overseers.”

“Since Day One, the President has tried to marginalize and exercise ultimate control over independent Inspectors General,” she said in a statement. “Yet again, he is doubling down on his signing statement promise to disregard critical oversight provisions that hold the Administration accountable to the law.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The sudden removal & replacement of Acting IG Glenn Fine is part of a disturbing pattern of retaliation by the President against independent overseers fulfilling their duties to conduct oversight on behalf of the American people. https://t.co/4QmyMdJ1S9 — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) April 7, 2020

Just last week, Fine had been designated to lead the coronavirus relief oversight panel. Pelosi called his dismissal a “reaction” by the president to the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package being changed to “workers-first” from “corporations-first.”

The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee will be responsible for auditing the distribution of funds from the bill and investigating any questionable actions.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We will continue to exercise our oversight to ensure that this historic investment of taxpayer dollars is being used wisely and efficiently to help workers and families,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi noted that Fine’s replacement came “just days after the shameful late-night firing” of Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community's inspector general. Atkinson elevated a whistleblower complaint last year that led to the House impeachment inquiry into Trump.

Fine had served as acting inspector general at the Pentagon since 2016. He will now go back to being principal deputy inspector general for the Defense Department. Trump selected Jason Abend, a senior policy adviser for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to replace Fine.

The Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general, Sean O'Donnell, will serve as acting inspector general for the Defense Department.