Original Date Announced

President Trump fired HHS Inspector General (IG) Christi Grimm, along with at least 16 other inspectors general. Reportedly, Grimm was informed of her termination in a two-sentence email, citing "new priorities" under the Trump administration.

As Inspector General, Grimm led an independent organization of more than 1,600 auditors, evaluators, investigators, lawyers, and management professionals in overseeing HHS expenditures and programs, in service of the Office of Inspector General's mission to protect the integrity of HHS programs and the health and welfare of the people HHS serves. The scope of the HHS IG's oversight extends to all agencies operating under HHS, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Administration for Children & Families, the Food & Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health.

Trump 2.0 [ID #1539]

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.02.12 Complaint - Storch v. Hegseth

Inspector General Grimm and seven other inspectors general filed a lawsuit to challenge their terminations. The complaint argues that the Trump administration's act violates the common law prohibition against ultra vires (unauthorized) government action and the Inspector General Act (5 U.S.C. § 403(b)). The plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief to reinstate them to their positions and prohibit "Agency Defendants, or anyone else working in concert with them, from impeding the lawful exercise of the duties of their offices." Storch v. Hegseth, No. 1:25-cv-00415 (D.D.C.).

**Link to case here. Our litigation entries generally report only the initial complaint and any major substantive filings or decisions. For additional information, CourtListener provides access to PACER and all available pleadings. Other sites that track litigation in more detail or organize cases by topic include Civil Rights Clearinghouse, Justice Action Center, National Immigration Litigation Alliance, and Just Security**

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.02.14 Reported: Judge Refuses to Immediately Reinstate Inspectors General Fired by Trump - New York Times

District Judge Ana Reyes denied the Storch plaintiffs' emergency motion for a temporary restraining order to immediately reinstate them to their positions as inspectors general. According to New York Times reporting, during a ten-minute hearing Judge Reyes admonished the plaintiffs for bringing the emergency motion and threatened court sanctions if they did not immediately withdraw it. Storch v. Hegseth, No. 1:25-cv-00415 (D.D.C.).

**Link to case here. See litigation note above**

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.02.14 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction - Storch v. Hegseth

The Storch plaintiffs filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, seeking the immediate reinstatement of the terminated inspectors general. Storch v. Hegseth, No. 1:25-cv-00415 (D.D.C.).

**Link to case here. See litigation note above**

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.09.24 Order Denying Preliminary Injunction - Storch v. Hegseth

District Judge Ana Reyes denied the inspectors general's motion for preliminary injunction. The court found that President Trump violated the Inspector General Act when he fired the inspectors general without providing Congress the notice and justifications required under the Act. However, it found that the plaintiffs failed to show irreparable harm, as any reinstatement would be temporary since President Trump could simply re-fire them lawfully. The court also concluded that the remedies available at law are sufficient to compensate them. The court acknowledged that the inspectors general had given “exceptional service” and “deserved better from their government,” but that it "cannot provide Plaintiffs more." Storch v. Hegseth, No. 1:25-cv-00415 (D.D.C.).

**Link to case here. See litigation note above**