Trump fires 17 independent inspectors-general at federal agencies, says source
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The Washington Post, which was first to report the dismissals, said most were appointees from Mr Donald Trump’s 2017-2021 first term.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump’s administration
The inspectors-general at agencies including the departments of state, defence and transportation were notified by e-mails from the White House personnel director that they had been terminated immediately, the source said on condition of anonymity.
The dismissals appeared to violate federal law, which requires the president to give both Houses of Congress reasons for the dismissals 30 days in advance.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
An inspector-general is an independent position that conducts audits, investigations and inspections into allegations of waste, fraud and abuse of power.
Agencies are pressing ahead with orders from Mr Trump, who returned to the presidency on Jan 20, to reshape the federal bureaucracy by scrapping diversity programmes, rescinding job offers and sidelining more than 150 national security and foreign policy officials.
The Jan 24 dismissals spared Department of Justice inspector-general Michael Horowitz, according to The New York Times.
The Washington Post, which was first to report the dismissals, said most were appointees from Mr Trump’s 2017-2021 first term.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, called Mr Trump’s action a “purge of independent watchdogs in the middle of the night”, posting on X: “President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption.”
Former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, an ally of the President, defended the decision on X, saying “existing IGs are virtually worthless”.
“They may bring a few minor things to light but accomplish next to nothing,” she wrote. “The whole system needs to be revamped. They are toothless and protect the institution instead of the citizens.”
Many politically appointed leaders of agencies and departments come and go with each administration, but an inspector-general can serve under multiple presidents.
During his first term, Mr Trump fired five inspectors-general in less than two months in 2020.
This included the State Department, whose inspector-general had played a role in the President’s impeachment proceedings.
In 2024, Mr Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden fired the inspector-general of the US Railroad Retirement Board, after an investigation found the official had created a hostile work environment.
In 2022, Congress strengthened protections for inspectors-general, making it harder to replace them with hand-picked officials and requiring additional explanations from a president for their removal. REUTERS
