President Donald Trump Fired 17 Independent Watchdogs at Federal Agencies
President Donald Trump fired 17 independent watchdogs at various federal agencies late Friday, a Trump administration official confirmed to Fox News. The watchdogs, who were responsible for investigating government waste, fraud, and abuse, were dismissed at agencies within the Defense Department, State Department, Energy Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, and more.
The firings were carried out by email from the White House Presidential Personnel Office, with the Washington Post reporting that the watchdogs were given no prior notice. One of the terminated inspectors general described the move as a “widespread massacre” and warned that it would undermine the entire system.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed concern that Trump’s action may violate federal law, which requires the president to give 30 days’ notice to Congress of his intent to fire any independent watchdog. Grassley called for further explanation from Trump and noted that the 30-day notice was not provided to Congress.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Inspectors general at federal agencies operate independently and can serve in multiple administrations.
The mass firing is part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape the government and purge opponents of his agenda from the federal bureaucracy. Trump has already shut down diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, rescinded job offers, and sidelined more than 150 national security and foreign policy officials.
Among those spared from Trump’s wrath was Department of Justice inspector general Michael Horowitz, who led the investigation of the FBI’s Russian collusion probe. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., slammed Trump’s firings, calling them a “purge of independent watchdogs in the middle of the night.”
Trump’s move has been widely criticized, with many arguing that it undermines the integrity of the government and creates an environment ripe for corruption.
