Email: Housing official to lead Interior watchdog agency

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is apparently reassigning a political appointee at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to lead an internal watchdog agency at the Interior Department.

An email sent by HUD Secretary Ben Carson to staff says assistant HUD secretary Suzanne Israel Tufts will take over as acting inspector general at Interior. Tufts would replace Mary Kendall, who has served as acting inspector general since 2009.

A spokeswoman for the inspector general’s office said Tuesday that Kendall remains on the job, adding that the agency “has received no official communication or information about any leadership changes.” A spokeswoman for Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke referred questions to the White House, which didn’t immediately respond.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of Carson’s email, which was first reported by The Hill.