Trump fires inspector generals from more than a dozen federal agencies
According to a Trump administration official, President Donald Trump fired the inspectors general from more than a dozen federal agencies on Friday night, setting the door for him to replace the independent watchdogs with his own selections.
According to a source familiar with the situation, agency inspectors general received an email late Friday from Sergio Gor, head of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, advising them that "changing priorities" had resulted in their employment being "terminated" effective immediately. The reorganization touched a large portion of the federal government, including the departments of State, Energy, the Interior, Defence, and Transportation.
Some Republican senators, notably Iowa's Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, a well-known "watchdog" for IGs, have expressed alarm over the firings, claiming that Congress was not given the mandatory 30-day notice from the White House under federal law.
Democrats condemned the dismissals, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling them "a chilling purge" and warned that they may usher in "a golden age of abuse in government, and even corruption."
“Yesterday, in the dark of night, President Trump fired at least 12 independent inspector generals at important federal agencies across the administration. This is a chilling purge, and it’s a preview of the lawless approach Donald Trump and his administration are taking far too often as he’s becoming president.”
Schumer added, “These dismissals are possibly in violation of federal law, which requires Congress to have 30 days notice of any intent to fire inspectors general.”
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts described Trump's moves as "a purge of independent watchdogs in the middle of the night."
“Inspectors general are charged with rooting out government waste, fraud, abuse, and preventing misconduct,” Warren posted on X. “President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption.”
