After a week full of fiery strokes of pen aimed at actions designed to ‘reshape’ the nation, US President Donald Trump on Friday abruptly dismissed 17 independent inspectors general across multiple government agencies, raising concerns about the erosion of oversight and accountability in the federal government.
The firings, as per a report by news agency, Reuters, included watchdogs from the departments of state, defense, and transportation, who were notified via email of their immediate termination.
The White House has yet to comment on the decision, which appears to violate federal law requiring 30 days’ notice and justification to Congress for such dismissals. Inspectors general, who serve as independent watchdogs to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse of power, have traditionally operated across administrations regardless of party affiliation.
Trump, who returned to office on Monday, has embarked on a sweeping reorganisation of the federal bureaucracy, dismantling diversity programs, rescinding job offers, and sidelining over 150 national security and foreign policy officials. According to The Washington Post, which broke the story, many of the terminated watchdogs were appointees from Trump’s first term in office between 2017 and 2021. Inspector general of the Department of Justice, Michael Horowitz, was reportedly spared, per The New York Times.
The dismissals provoked sharp criticism from lawmakers, with Senator Elizabeth Warren condemning the action as a “purge of independent watchdogs in the middle of the night.” Posting on X, she accused Trump of “dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption.”
Trump ally and former lawyer Sidney Powell defended the move, stating on X, “Existing IGs are virtually worthless. They may bring a few minor things to light but accomplish next to nothing. The whole system needs to be revamped! They are toothless and protect the institution instead of the citizens.”
Inspector generals traditionally serve beyond the tenure of a single administration, providing continuity in government oversight. During Trump’s first term, he fired five inspector generals within two months in 2020, including the State Department watchdog who played a role in his impeachment proceedings.
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The 45th and 47th president, back in the White House for less than a week, electrified his support base with a series of pardons and actions that includes – deploying troops to the US-Mexico border, assailing a constitutional right to citizenship, reversing gender and diversity policies, and all but abandoning the fight against the climate crisis.
