Overview
- President Trump has nominated Dennis Kirk to be inspector general for the Department of the Interior, placing a Project 2025 co-author before the Senate for confirmation.
- Former Interior IG Mark Lee Greenblatt and Rep. Jared Huffman say Kirk was already installed inside the IG office in a political role and that this placement creates a conflict for an independent watchdog.
- Two Senate Democrats asked the Interior IG to probe the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation after federal prosecutors said contractors likely caused the damage and dropped vandalism charges.
- Watchdog and conservation groups say the Interior IG office is weakened, is holding at least five unresolved investigation requests, and faces real credibility risks if a political loyalist leads it.
- Critics note statutory and auditing norms require nonpartisan inspectors general and warn that confirming Kirk could chill whistleblowers and reduce congressional oversight of parks, Tribal programs, and department projects.