Obernolte disavows congressional actions against Trump’s firings, funding freezes

BY: AIDAN MCGLOIN, Special Contribution to CFR

LOMA LINDA, Calif. – Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., told attendees at a Feb. 20 forum that he will not use congressional actions to push back against Donald Trump’s impoundment of congressional funding. Instead, the member of The U.S. House Committee on the Budget prefers to work through conversations he was unwilling to discuss in public.

“So we in Congress are pushing back on actions that we don’t agree with that the president is doing. This may not make you happy, but we are not doing it out in public to provide a circus for your amusement,” Obernolte said.

The comment was in response to a question about Trump’s Jan. 24 firing of 17 inspectors general, who investigate fraud and corruption.

“Those inspectors general have been fired. Since they are part of the oversight by Congress, can you explain to us all how the inspectors general work, who are independent as I understand, and why they were fired, and what Congress is doing about it?” asked a woman at the Loma Linda City Hall forum.

Obernolte said that the firings were illegal, but that he was not going to do anything about it in Congress.

“They are a critical part of our system of oversight over both branches of government, the legislative and the executive. They have a very important function to perform,” Obernolte said.

“They’re gone!” two people shouted.

“I don’t think the firings of those IGs were legal. I don’t. I think it was in violation of the law—plain violation of the part of the law that says—are we talking to each other, or are we talking with me?—the part of the law that says the executive branch, before firing an IG, has to give Congress 30 days' notice. So, regardless of anything else about the justification of why they were fired, I say that makes it illegal. And you know what? There’s a group of IGs who just last week got together and are suing the administration, saying it is illegal, and I think they will win.”

When asked what he is doing personally, Obernolte said the most effective way of pushing back is through private conversations directly with Trump.

“I have now served under presidents of both parties. And what I really appreciate is that the way we push back on whatever administration depends on what is most effective. So we in Congress are pushing back on actions that we don’t agree with that the president is doing. This may not make you happy, but we are not doing it out in public to provide a circus for your amusement,” Obernolte said.

After an uproar from the crowd, Obernolte repeated that direct congressional action is not appropriate.

“When we meet with the president, we express our concerns, and he listens. This is the most effective way to deal with it. So, I think the IGs are going to be reinstated,” Obernolte said.

At other times during the forum, Obernolte said he was satisfied with Trump’s assurances.

“These concerns I have as well—the National Park System and the FAA—those are things that I am very concerned with as well. A large number of my colleagues have reached out to the administration with our concerns, and we have been assured that the firing of the probationary employees was something that will be temporary, and the funding freeze is temporary. So we will continue to push on this,” Obernolte said.

“The funding freeze has affected agencies all across the federal spectrum. … This has got to end soon. We have been assured that it will. If it doesn’t, we will take action,” he said later.

Obernolte also said he did not take issue with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) federal firings, funding freezes, and access to private data.

“A lot of people are concerned that DOGE is outside the traditional government structure. I want to make it clear that the only reason they are in power to do anything is because the people that are inside the government structure, with the president at the top, have enabled them to do that. So Elon Musk, when he goes through a department, he can do nothing with that information but go to the president,” Obernolte said.

He also claimed that DOGE has found examples of fraud previously undiscovered to him—despite his role on the Budget Committee.

“Look at the things they have found. … Some of the concerns about the NIH program that has been shut down. I share those concerns because I am the chairman of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology under the Science, Space and Technology Committee. We have direct oversight over all of that NIH research funding.”

“So oversee,” a crowd member yelled.

“We have been trying to, but we haven’t been able to, because they have been lying to us,” Obernolte said.

“Over $20 million spent on programs injecting beagles with cocaine. $19 million on a study identifying why lesbian women of color prefer (the crowd drowned out his voice) …. I am the chairperson in the committee of jurisdiction. Let me talk about this—these were things we were not told about, even though we asked. So thank God. … Everybody should be horrified at this, horrified at what they have done,” Obernolte said.

Obernolte later said he would fight for increased NIH funding.

Before accepting questions, Obernolte opened the forum by saying that the budget deficit is the single most existential threat facing the United States of America.

“I think Congress has proven itself totally incapable of handling the budget. I think we need a requirement in our federal Constitution that Congress must balance the budget every year,” Obernolte said.