In a major movementPresident Donald Trump on Friday night fired at least a dozen inspectors general and purged an independent watchdog at a key federal agency tasked with identifying fraud and abuse. A federal law enacted in 2022 requires the president to notify Congress at least 30 days before firing an inspector general and provide reasons for the termination. But none of that happened.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) posted on X that it was “a midnight purge of independent watchdogs.” “The Inspector General is responsible for rooting out government waste, fraud, abuse and preventing misconduct. “President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption,” he said.
The inspector general received an email from the White House saying the position had been terminated “due to a change in priorities.” The number of investigators dismissed remains unclear, with reports ranging from at least 12 to around 17. washington post and new york times Agencies that have had oversight removed include the Departments of Defense, State, Transportation, Labor, Health, Commerce, Interior, Veterans Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Small Business Administration, the report states. Those ousted include appointees from President Trump’s first term.
The inspector general system dates back to 1978, when, following the Watergate scandal, Congress enacted legislation establishing independent monitors within federal agencies to conduct investigations and audits and report their findings to the public. There are currently 74 inspectors general, 36 of whom are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Among those fired Friday were investigators critical of the Biden administration. mail. Michael Missal of the Department of Veterans Affairs oversaw an investigation into the handling of veterans’ electronic medical records and found in 2022 that the department put veterans’ health at risk. Interior Department Secretary Mark Greenblatt drew praise from Trump after a 2021 report found that the U.S. Park Police led law enforcement officers into crowds of mostly peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square in the summer of 2020 and erected a fence around the park. I received it. Protect police officers. Don’t prepare for Trump’s upcoming photo op at a church near you.
One prominent investigator who was not fired was the Justice Department’s Michael Horowitz. Horowitz, an Obama appointee, won praise from Trump supporters in 2019 for releasing a report exposing flaws in the FBI’s investigation into ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
For decades, it has been common for inspectors general to remain in office even when new administrations take office. But during his first term, Trump fired several of those investigating his administration, including Secretary of State Steve Linick and Inspector General Michael Atkinson, who were fired after opening an investigation into then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The intelligence agency that handled the whistleblower who triggered Trump’s first impeachment.
Democrats and some Republicans criticized Friday’s late-night withdrawal, with some expressing concerns that the opening could lead to Trump putting a loyalist in the inspector general’s position.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said this when she arrived at the Capitol Saturday morning. “I don’t understand why anyone would fire an individual whose job it is to root out waste, fraud and abuse. This leaves a gap in what I know of President Trump’s priorities. So I don’t understand it.”
“There may have been a valid reason why the IG was terminated,” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), an advocate for the surveillance program, said in a statement. He continued, “Then we need to know. I would like to hear further explanation from President Trump. “Nevertheless, the detailed 30-day notice of termination required by law was not provided to Congress.”
Among those fired was Hannibal Ware, the Small Business Administration inspector general who heads a council representing watchdogs from various government agencies. Late Friday night, he sent a letter to White House Director of Presidential Personnel Sergio Gor suggesting the decision was not legal and recommending that Gor consult with White House counsel. “At this time, we do not believe that the actions taken are legally sufficient to terminate the President’s appointed, Senate-confirmed inspector general,” he wrote.
