Trump fires inspectors general in a late-night purge, violating federal law and sparking bipartisan criticism.
In a move that has ignited a firestorm of controversy, President Donald Trump fired at least 12 to 17 inspectors general (IGs) from multiple federal agencies late Friday night, January 24, 2025.
Critics have described the sweeping dismissals as a “chilling purge,” raising serious concerns about the erosion of government oversight and accountability.
The firings, executed without the legally required 30-day notice to Congress, have drawn bipartisan criticism and accusations of violating federal law.
The firings appear to violate the Inspector General Reform Act of 2022, which requires the president to provide Congress with a 30-day notice and a detailed rationale for removing any inspector general.
This law was enacted in response to Trump’s earlier dismissals of IGs during his first term, which had already sparked concerns about the politicization of these critical oversight roles.
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a longtime advocate for inspectors general, expressed dismay over the lack of notice and demanded an explanation from the White House.
“There may be good reason the IGs were fired. We need to know that if so,”
Grassley said in a statement.
“Regardless, the 30-day detailed notice of removal that the law demands was not provided to Congress.”
Democrats were even more vocal in their criticism. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called the firings “a chilling purge” and warned that they could usher in “a golden age for abuse in government, and even corruption.
” Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) took to social media to condemn the move, stating,
“President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption.
President Trump defended the firings during a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, January 25.
“I did it because it’s a very common thing to do,” he said, adding, “I don’t know them, but some people thought that some were unfair or were not doing the job. It’s a very standard thing to do.”
Critics argue that the dismissals are part of a broader pattern of replacing independent officials with loyalists.
Many of the fired inspectors general were Trump appointees from his first term, including Michael Missal of the Veterans Affairs Department and Mark Greenblatt of the Interior Department.
Missal had previously uncovered significant flaws in the Biden administration’s electronic health records system, while Greenblatt’s reports were seen as favorable to Trump.
Notably, Michael Horowitz, the Justice Department’s inspector general, was spared in the purge.
Horowitz, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, has issued reports critical of both Democratic and Republican administrations, including a 2019 review of the FBI’s handling of the Russia investigation. Trump praised Horowitz’s work, calling his 2019 report “such an accurate, well-done report.”
The mass firings have sparked fears about the future of government oversight. Inspectors general play a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability within federal agencies.
Their removal could leave critical programs, such as Social Security, veterans’ benefits, and disaster recovery efforts, vulnerable to mismanagement and abuse.
Moreover, the dismissals have raised questions about the independence of the inspector general system, which was established in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal to prevent executive overreach.
“IGs are not immune from removal. However, the law must be followed to protect independent government oversight for America,” said Hannibal Ware, the former inspector general of the Small Business Administration, who was among those fired.
This is not the first time Trump has targeted inspectors general.
During his first term, he fired several IGs, including those overseeing the intelligence community and the Department of Defense, often replacing them with political allies.
The latest purge, coming just days into his second term, suggests a continuation of this trend.
As the dust settles, the focus now shifts to how Congress will respond. While some Republicans have expressed concern, it remains unclear whether they will take concrete action to hold the administration accountable.
For now, the firings stand as a stark reminder of the challenges facing government oversight in an increasingly polarized political landscape.