Trump Dismisses 17 Independent Watchdogs Violating Federal Law
Donald Trump fired 17 independent watchdogs at multiple US government agencies on Friday, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. This action eliminates a critical oversight component and paves the way for the president to replace them with loyalists.
The inspectors general at agencies such as the departments of state, defense, and transportation were notified by emails from the White House personnel director that their termination was effective immediately, as per the anonymous source.
These dismissals seemed to contravene federal law, which mandates the president to provide both houses of Congress with reasons for the dismissals 30 days in advance.
The White House did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
An inspector general is an independent position responsible for conducting audits and investigations into allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse of power.
Agencies are moving forward with orders from Trump, who began his second presidency on Monday, to reshape the federal bureaucracy. This includes scrapping diversity programmes, rescinding job offers, and sidelining more than 150 national security and foreign policy officials.
The dismissals spared the justice department inspector general, Michael Horowitz, according to the New York Times. The Washington Post, which was the first to report the dismissals, noted that most were appointees from Trump's first White House term from 2017 to 2021.
US senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, termed Trump's actions a "purge of independent watchdogs in the middle of the night".
She stated, "President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption," on X.
Former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, an ally of the president, defended the decision on X, claiming: "Existing IGs are virtually worthless."
She added, "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."
While politically appointed leaders of agencies and departments typically change with each administration, an inspector general can serve under multiple presidents.
During his first term, Trump dismissed five inspectors general within less than two months in 2020, including at the state department, whose inspector general had been involved in the president's impeachment proceedings.
Last year, Trump's predecessor Joe Biden terminated the inspector general of the US railroad retirement board after an investigation revealed the official had created a hostile work environment. In 2022, Congress enhanced protections for inspectors general, making it more difficult to replace them with handpicked officials and requiring the president to provide further explanations for their removal.
