President Donald Trump dismissed at least a dozen internal government watchdogs late Friday, according to U.S. media reports, marking the latest shake-up of his administration following his return to office for a second term. Independent inspectors general from at least 12 federal agencies were notified of their immediate termination via emails from the White House personnel director, The Washington Post reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
Inspectors general play a crucial role in overseeing government operations by detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse by public employees. They investigate violations of laws, regulations, and ethical standards, and conduct audits of contracts, finances, and staff performance.
The dismissals affected several key federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, State, Interior, and Energy, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Social Security Administration, The Post noted.
One of the dismissed inspectors general described the firings as a “widespread massacre,” suggesting that the individuals Trump appoints to replace them will be seen as loyalists, thus undermining the integrity of the oversight system. According to the newspaper, most of those dismissed had been appointed by Trump during his first term.
The New York Times, citing three unnamed sources, reported that 17 inspectors general were let go, although the Justice Department’s watchdog was not affected by the purge.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts condemned the firings, calling them “a purge… in the middle of the night.” She argued that inspectors general are essential for holding the government accountable and preventing corruption, adding that Trump’s actions were dismantling checks on his power and opening the door for widespread corruption.
On the first full day of his second term, Trump also announced plans to remove around 1,000 government employees he deemed as opponents. His second term has begun with a series of executive actions aimed at overhauling government policies on issues such as immigration, citizenship, gender, diversity, and climate, many of which are currently facing legal challenges.
