Veteran DOJ Watchdog’s Exit Spurs Fears of Lax Trump Oversight

The departure of the Justice Department’s longtime inspector general next week has former officials and other lawyers worried that an era of robust, independent oversight of law enforcement is ending at the worst possible moment.

Michael Horowitz’s move—after 13 years as DOJ’s top watchdog—to serve the same role at the Federal Reserve coincides with litigation over Trump’s mass inspector general firings at other agencies. His still undetermined successor will face a growing pile of complaints seeking probes into top Justice Department officials and White House efforts to shrink the office’s budget by 28%.

Some in the IG and whistleblower communities said they’re hoping that Horowitz’s veteran deputy could take over and try to maintain the office’s reputation for bipartisan accountability. Yet they’re pessimistic about its fate as the administration prioritizes fealty to Trump.

“Mr. Horowitz personified a public servant who followed the evidence wherever it led, regardless of political party,” said Tom Devine, legal director at the Government Accountability Project, which routinely represents whistleblowers cooperating with DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General. “He will be sorely missed because he will be the last credible official source of factfinding at the Department of Justice.”

Although OIG’s default succession plan would elevate deputy William Blier—a decadeslong OIG employee considered in lockstep with Horowitz—to the acting post, the White House or Attorney General Pam Bondi could instead install an interim IG from outside DOJ, before Trump nominates a permanent leader with an unlimited term.

Devine, echoing a fear expressed by multiple department veterans, said he sees no reason to expect Bondi and Trump won’t install “a puppet.”

Spokespeople for Bondi and Horowitz declined to comment.

The Survivor

Horowitz served as a federal prosecutor and public corruption chief in Manhattan, partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham, & Taft, and a George W. Bush appointed member of the US Sentencing Commission before President Barack Obama nominated him as IG.

That Horowitz is even still in place at DOJ was a surprise to some of his peers. A day after terminating a dozen inspectors general Jan. 24, Trump told reporters: “Michael Horowitz, we’re keeping,” and proceeded to praise his prior report on former FBI director and Trump foe James Comey.

But Horowitz’s initial survival increased the challenges for the office to carry on its history of publishing critical audits and investigations into DOJ leaders and programs, regardless of the political party in power. Former colleagues predicted that an IG of Horowitz’s integrity would’ve been inevitably fired for displeasing the president, especially as he’s faced with mounting requests to probe alleged misconduct by Trump’s close allies leading DOJ.

Horowitz’s new appointment came from the central bank’s chairman, Jerome Powell, providing greater insulation from Trump administration pressure.

Regardless of who takes over, some attorneys with frequent dealings with the department’s OIG see a bleak future with low expectations for vigorous investigations into Bondi and her team.

“I’m disappointed that he would be stepping aside having survived this long, and at such a crucial point that now clearly enables President Trump to replace him with a loyalist,” said Mark Zaid, a whistleblower attorney. “That office is currently engaged in an overwhelming number of whistleblower complaints against this administration, particularly alleging violations of law and criminal behavior.”

Democratic lawmakers have asked Horowitz in recent months to investigate Bondi over her legal approval of Trump’s luxury airplane gift from Qatar, FBI Director Kash Patel stemming from accusations that he directed a purge of FBI employees before being confirmed as director, and senior official Emil Bove for ordering the dismissal of charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams.

In his final week on the job, Horowitz received a whistleblower complaint from a fired department lawyer alleging Bove, now a judicial nominee, instructed government lawyers to ignore court orders. A day later, Senate Democrats wrote Horowitz to request an investigation into Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for allegedly lying during his Senate confirmation hearing.

Horowitz was known for developing good relationships on Capitol Hill with both sides of the aisle, emboldening his team to require cooperation from DOJ political appointees across three administrations. His successor, however, will lead the office at a time when Republican lawmakers—including whistleblower champion and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)—have been reluctant to second-guess the Trump administration.

“My expectation for Inspector General Horowitz, his successor and all other IGs is to help Congress advance transparency and accountability by responding to congressional requests in a thorough and timely manner,” Grassley said in a statement.

‘Significantly Curtailed’

Beyond its jurisdiction over senior officials’ conduct, the watchdog office takes on numerous audits of DOJ grants, federal prison operations, and contractors.

The Trump administration detailed plans to slash those efforts in its fiscal 2026 budget. The White House proposed reducing OIG personnel by 140, saying that “the scope and frequency of independent oversight will be significantly curtailed.”

Another concern is that a more politicized IG will carry out the administration’s objective to uncover what Bondi and Trump have said is widespread weaponization within the rank-and-file.

Cynthia Schnedar, a former deputy and acting DOJ inspector general, said she fears “the possibility of biased targeted investigations of those who Trump doesn’t like. Those IG reports could be misused in some way.”

Trump’s treatment of other IGs has already created a chilling effect, said former DOJ inspector general Michael Bromwich.

“It would be only human for people in those offices who recognize that what’s prized right now is loyalty, rather than aggressive oversight, to draw back from conducting various audits, reviews, and investigations that relate to high-level officials,” Bromwich said, “and to be far more circumspect in the way they express any criticism.”