In a controversial decision, President Donald Trump has removed 17 independent watchdogs from federal agencies, sparking a wide range of reactions.
The move aligns with Trump's efforts to reshape government and follows previous dismissals that sparked concerns about potential violations of federal laws, Fox News reported.
Late Friday, officials executed firings at various departments, including Defense, State, Energy, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Veterans Affairs. The White House Presidential Personnel Office reportedly sent dismissal notifications via email, and the Washington Post first broke the news.
Trump's decision has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers such as Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who pointed out the potential breach of federal law, which mandates a 30-day notice to Congress for firing inspectors general. The White House has remained silent on the controversy, with no official comment released regarding the rationale behind the dismissals.
The role of inspectors general is to function independently to investigate government waste, fraud, and abuse, a responsibility maintained across different presidential administrations. Opponents fear that the removal of these officials is an attempt to replace them with individuals loyal to Trump's administration.
Inspector General Michael Horowitz of the Department of Justice was one notable figure not removed in this purge. Horowitz had gained attention for his investigation into the FBI's Russian collusion probe, which revealed inaccuracies in a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant application.
The firings echo Trump's previous actions early in his first term when he dismissed five inspectors general over a short period in 2020. Such actions have fuelled worries over potential erosion of accountability mechanisms, particularly since Congress enacted reforms in 2022 to safeguard inspectors general's positions.
These reforms aimed to limit political replacements and require detailed justifications for any dismissals. In contrast, officials have allegedly carried out the current dismissals without adhering to these legislative protections.
Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized Trump's latest actions, expressing concern over the dismantling of critical checks on presidential power. Her warnings underscore an apparent fear of increasing corruption and reduced oversight.
Among those terminated, one former inspector general described the action as a "widespread massacre," expressing concern about the integrity of their replacements. These sentiments of alarm were echoed by other critics, wary of the administration's motivations.
It’s a widespread massacre. Whoever Trump puts in now will be viewed as loyalists, and that undermines the entire system.
Grassley insisted on the need for transparency, emphasizing that justified reasons for firing the inspectors general, if present, should be made clear. Despite his willingness to await explanations, Grassley criticized the administration for failing to provide the legally required notice to Congress.
The ongoing situation suggests that Trump aims to continue reshaping the federal bureaucracy by replacing officials regarded as opponents with those aligned to his administration's policies. This strategy, if unresolved, could significantly impact governmental checks and balances.
President Trump recently dismissed 17 independent watchdogs from key federal agencies, stirring a debate about the potential breach of federal laws and the reshaping of government oversight. This action follows similar dismissals during his first term, emphasizing his pattern of restructuring government roles. The move has fueled fears of political replacements and diminished accountability, as the process appears to have sidestepped legal reforms. By aligning agency leadership with loyalists, Trump raises questions about the future of impartial government oversight.