Pompeo fires State Dept. watchdog critical of Trump moves

 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has fired State Department’s inspector general, an Obama administration appointee whose office was critical of alleged political bias in ncy’s manment.

A senior department official said Pompeo removed Steve Linick from his job Friday but gave reason for his removal. Linick had served in job since 2013. His office had issued several reports critical of department’s handling of personnel matters, including accusing some of President Donald Trump’s appointees of retaliating against career officials.

Linick will replaced by Stephen Akard, a former career foreign service officer who has close ties to Vice President Mike Pence, said official, who was t authorized to discuss matter publicly and spoke on condition of anymity. Akard currently runs department's Office of Foreign Missions. He had been minated to be director general of foreign service but withdrew after objections he wasn't experienced eugh.

Linick, a former assistant U.S. attorney in California and Virginia, had overseen inspector general reports that were highly critical of department's manment policies during Trump administration. His office had criticized several Trump appointees for ir treatment of career staff for apparently being insufficiently supportive of Trump and his policies.

Under Linick, State Department's inspector general office was also critical of former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's hiring freeze and attempts to streamline ncy by slashing funding and personnel.