The Integrity Committee of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) must investigate whether Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito violated any federal ethics laws or professional standards by making political statements and repeatedly aligning the work of his independent office with the Trump administration’s political leadership amidst public reports that he was considering other partisan job opportunities, according to a letter CREW sent to the Committee today. 

Following his failed bid for reelection to Congress in 2024, D’Esposito was nominated by the Trump administration to fill the vacant Labor IG position. Since then, D’Esposito has repeatedly engaged in conduct inconsistent with the independence required of inspectors general. In particular, reports indicate that he strongly considered seeking election to his former congressional seat in 2026 and is now rumored as a possible cabinet pick, appearing to treat his time as inspector general as a temporary paid holdover position while he revives his partisan political aspirations. 

While serving as inspector general, D’Esposito has blurred the lines between official duties and political activities. Through public appearances, including radio interviews and social media posts, he has aligned himself politically with President Trump and his administration. As the filing deadline for the Republican primary in New York approached, he appeared to escalate his attempts to align with Trump’s political rhetoric. Though he did not end up announcing a run for Congress, a recent press report floated his name to fill a partisan cabinet post leading the DOL, where he is currently tasked with being the independent watchdog. This behavior impairs his ability to be independent, and reflects self-interest and bias incompatible with the role of an inspector general. 

D’Esposito’s service as an inspector general, immediately following his tenure in Congress, raises concerns about his ability to maintain public trust. Inspectors general are required to exercise nonpartisan objectivity and independence. When a watchdog who has such close ties to a political party is overseeing potential wrongdoing in an agency, serious questions arise about impartiality.  D’Esposito’s recent public statements and social media posts amidst speculation about his partisan political aspirations undermined public trust in DOL OIG as corruption concerns have swirled in the agency and workers remain concerned about the state of the economy.

To ensure necessary oversight and accountability, the Integrity Committee must investigate whether D’Esposito violated the Quality Standards for Federal Offices of Inspector General, the Standards of Ethical Conduct or the Hatch Act. The Committee should also ensure adequate safeguards are in place to preserve all relevant documents and social media posts related to these allegations. 

Inspectors general play a critical role in safeguarding taxpayer funds, promoting government efficiency and investigating waste, fraud and abuse on behalf of the American people—not advancing their own political interests or serving as a loyal partisan ally of an administration. The Integrity Committee of the CIGIE must thoroughly review whether D’Esposito undermined the ethical duties of his office for his own political ambitions and take appropriate action to restore public trust—which is especially urgent at an agency already facing serious allegations of misconduct.

Read the complaint here.

Photo of Department of Labor by Shawn T. Moore under Creative Commons license

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