A former inspector general (IG) who was recently dismissed by President Donald Trump’s administration has slammed the mass firings of independent watchdogs as a “threat to democracy” and government transparency.
Mike Ware, who served as the chair of the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, was informed of his firing, along with 16 other IGs, via email from the White House Presidential Personnel Office.
Ware described the firings as “alarming” and stated that IGs are not part of any administration, but rather ensure that there is no fraud, waste and abuse in how taxpayer funds are expended. He noted that the Trump administration did not provide a comprehensive reason for the mass firings, potentially violating reforms that strengthened protections for IGs and made it harder to replace them with political appointees.
The former IG emphasized that the mass firing is a “threat to independent oversight and a threat to transparency in government” and claimed that the US government might as well not have an independent oversight mechanism if the new administration only adheres to the IG Act in a “piecemeal manner”.
This is not the first time Trump has attempted to purge government agencies of opposition to his agenda. He has already shut down diversity, equity and inclusion programs, rescinded job offers, and sidelined more than 150 national security and foreign policy officials.
Ware’s comments come as Trump begins his second term with a clear intent to purge the government of opponents and replace them with officials who will execute his orders without hesitation.
