A federal watchdog group has recommended that President Joe Biden consider removing Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, citing allegations of "substantial misconduct" and abuse of authority, Politico reported.
In a report delivered to the White House on Wednesday, the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency accused Cuffari, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, of misusing taxpayer money to retaliate against staff and misleading Congress during his 2019 confirmation.
The recommendation came after years of inquiry by CIGIE's Integrity Committee, which oversees investigations into inspector general conduct across the federal government. According to the committee, Cuffari allegedly directed $1.39 million in taxpayer funds toward hiring a private law firm, WilmerHale, to investigate three employees who had questioned his qualifications.
The report contends that these funds likely were used "for his 'personal' interest" and to "retaliate" against critics within his office. Two staff members had already left DHS by the time the investigation began.
The watchdog's findings were first reported by Politico and later publicly shared by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee. The report has led CIGIE to recommend "discipline up to and including removal."
In response, a White House spokesperson said, "The findings of misconduct in this report are concerning."
As the DHS inspector general, Cuffari is responsible for auditing and investigating malfeasance within the department. However, CIGIE's investigation portrays a series of actions that may have undermined the integrity of his office.
In addition to allegations of misuse of funds, the report suggests that Cuffari misled Congress about his past employment history, stating he left a previous government role under "mutual agreement" due to misconduct allegations, although he claimed otherwise during his confirmation.
The recommendation has ignited political tensions, with Republicans on Capitol Hill rallying to support Cuffari. They argue that he has been targeted for political reasons, pointing to his critiques of the Biden administration's immigration policies.
Cuffari has drawn attention to DHS' challenges with vetting Afghan evacuees and tracking unaccompanied minors released from custody at the U.S.-Mexico border. During a July hearing, House Oversight Republicans questioned CIGIE's handling of its investigation, suggesting bias against Cuffari.
Republican Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin have expressed concerns about the investigation's integrity.
According to the senators, whistleblowers reported that the investigation could be politically motivated. They argue that Cuffari's commitment to examining DHS practices has led to undue scrutiny of his conduct.
The committee is led by Inspector General Mark Greenblatt, a Trump appointee. Eric Soskin, the inspector general responsible for overseeing the investigation, also served under Trump.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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