Glenn Fine steps down as Pentagon’s deputy inspector-general

The Defense Department’s deputy inspector-general resigned on Tuesday, more than a month after President Donald Trump removed him as the Pentagon’s acting inspector-general, who was to also oversee the U.S. government’s $2.3-trillion coronavirus response.

Glenn Fine’s resignation comes after the Trump administration has removed four government inspectors-general, who seek to root out government waste, fraud and abuse, in recent weeks.

Most recently the State Department’s inspector-general, Steve Linick was fired. That ousting prompted heavy criticism from senior Democratic lawmakers, including House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat.

“I believe the time has come for me to step down and allow others to perform this vital role,” Fine said in a statement.

“The role of Inspectors-General is a strength of our system of government. They provide independent oversight to help improve government operations in a transparent way,” Fine added.

Fine had been performing the duties of the Pentagon’s lead inspector-general when he was removed in early April and reverted to being the No. 2 official in the inspector-general’s office.

Earlier in May, Trump ousted Christi Grimm, who led the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG). He accused her of having produced a “fake dossier” on shortages at American hospitals on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak. Grimm was testifying before a congressional committee on Tuesday.

In April, the Republican president notified Congress that he was firing Michael Atkinson, the inspector-general of the U.S. intelligence community. Atkinson was involved in triggering a probe of Trump last year that resulted in Trump’s impeachment.

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