Washington—Representatives Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Carolyn B. Maloney, the Acting Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, today issued the following statement on the release of a State Department Inspector General report on the Trump Administration’s mistreatment of career Department employees:

“The Trump Administration does not have the right to attack career employees who dedicate their lives to our nation—especially not as part of some sort of ill-conceived and groundless political ‘cleaning’ operation.  This disturbing report—the second in six months—not only details some of these egregious abuses, but it documents obstruction that prevented the Inspector General from conducting a full investigation.

“Secretary Pompeo has already demonstrated that he is unwilling to protect his own employees from the President’s political attacks, including those on Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, who will testify as part of the impeachment inquiry tomorrow.  The Department’s leaders have remained silent, despite the baseless smears that she continues to endure.

“It’s time for the agency to stop obstructing this investigation and follow through on the Inspector General’s recommendation to take strong disciplinary action against all those who engaged in these abuses.  Secretary Pompeo testified that anyone who engaged in this sort of bullying and harassment shouldn’t be working at the State Department. But he’s done nothing in the face of a mountain of evidence to hold anyone accountable.

“Our Committees will continue our effort to investigate these matters, support renewal of the state department and its workforce, and ensure the fair, lawful, and equal treatment of all career employees.”

Background:

Click here to view a timeline of the Foreign Affairs and Oversight & Reform Committees’ efforts to address the culture of harassment and impunity at the Trump State Department.

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