House Democrats Warn Trump's Interior Watchdog Nominee That Destroying Records Will Be Treated as a Federal Violation

Democratic leaders of the House Natural Resources Committee wrote to Dennis Kirk, President Trump's nominee to lead the Interior Department's inspector general office, on Aug. 18, 2026, telling him that 'any direction to direct, request, or suggest to others at the OIG that they destroy records or allow records to be destroyed or illegally altered will be considered a violation' of the Federal Records Act. They asked him to explain by Sept. 1 how his office would ensure compliance.

Kirk co-authored the federal workforce chapter of Project 2025. The letter argues an inspector general loyal to the president undermines the office's independence, and cites reporting that Interior officials have shredded documents and used disappearing Signal messages.

It lists ethics allegations against Interior appointees the office may be asked to examine.