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Phyllis Fong

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Phyllis Fong
Inspector General of the United States Department of Agriculture
In office
December 2, 2002 – January 24, 2025
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Donald Trump
Joe Biden
Donald Trump
Preceded byJoyce Fleischman (Acting)
Succeeded byTBD
Inspector General of the Small Business Administration
In office
April 6, 1999 – December 2, 2002
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byKaren Lee (Acting)
Succeeded byPeter McClintock (Acting)
Personal details
BornPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
SpousePaul Tellier
Children2
EducationPomona College (BA)
Vanderbilt University (JD)

Phyllis Fong is an American attorney who served as the inspector general of the United States Department of Agriculture from 2002 until her removal in 2025. Fong was nominated to the position in 2002 by President George W. Bush.[1]

On January 24, 2025, President Donald Trump removed her, along with several other inspectors general.[2] Fong defied her termination by the Trump administration, stating her belief that the termination was illegal, but was physically removed from her office on January 29.[3]

Early life and education

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Fong was born in Philadelphia and raised in Honolulu. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Asian studies from Pomona College and Juris Doctor from the Vanderbilt University Law School.

Career

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Fong began her career as a staff attorney for the United States Commission on Civil Rights. She then served as assistant general counsel for the Legal Services Corporation and assistant inspector general for management and policy. After serving as assistant inspector general for management and legal counsel, Fong was nominated to serve as inspector general of the Small Business Administration in 1999. Fong was nominated to serve as inspector general of the United States Department of Agriculture in 2002 and was confirmed on December 2, 2002.[4][5][6][1]

In April 2020, Fong was appointed to serve as a member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.[7]

Trump termination

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On January 24, 2025, President Donald Trump terminated Fong along with several other inspectors generals.[8] Fong refused to relinquish her position and accused the Trump administration of failing to follow proper protocol, citing the position of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency and the Inspector General Act of 1978. Fong was forcefully escorted out of her office by security on January 29. [9]

The White House defended the firing of Fong and the other inspectors general, saying "these rogue, partisan bureaucrats... have been relieved of their duties in order to make room for qualified individuals who will uphold the rule of law and protect Democracy."[10]

Personal life

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Fong and her husband, Paul Tellier, have two children. Tellier is also an attorney.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Phyllis Fong | Video | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
  2. ^ "Trump fires independent inspectors general in Friday night purge". POLITICO. 2025-01-25. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
  3. ^ Whisnant, Gabe; Mesa, Jesus (2025-01-29). "Former USDA inspector general defies Trump order, escorted from her office". Newsweek. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
  4. ^ "Phyllis K. Fong | Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency; IGnet". www.ignet.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  5. ^ "Phyllis K. Fong Inspector General, U.S. Department of Agriculture" (PDF).
  6. ^ Mccrimmon, Ryan. "What USDA's watchdogs are watching". POLITICO. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  7. ^ "Inspectors General Appointed to COVID-19 Response Oversight Committee – Homeland Security Today". 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  8. ^ "Trump fires independent inspectors general in Friday night purge". POLITICO. January 25, 2025.
  9. ^ Whisnant, Gabe; Mesa, Jesus (January 29, 2025). "Former USDA inspector general defies Trump order, escorted from her office". Newsweek.
  10. ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/us/usda-inspector-general-escorted-out-her-office-after-defying-white-house-2025-01-29/
  11. ^ "Biography for Phyllis Fong". U.S. Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on Dec 14, 2004.
  12. ^ "Phyllis Fong '78 and Paul Tellier '78". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
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