Lawmakers Press USDA Watchdog on Political Alignment, Staff Cuts

Feb. 3, 2026, 7:41 PM UTC

House Democrats on Tuesday grilled a federal Agriculture Department watchdog on his ability to independently audit and investigate the Trump administration’s actions given his political work for the Heritage Foundation.

US Agriculture Department Inspector General John Walk faced questions about his previous work as a Trump administration political appointee and volunteering for the conservative policy blueprint Project 2025 prior to becoming a watchdog. He spoke at an oversight hearing before members of the House Appropriations agriculture subcommittee.

Walk largely demurred about his political activities and instead laid out his office’s goals, including investigating financial fraud and gathering data about agricultural ...

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