REPORT: Trump fires large number of Inspectors General in late-night purge

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From the New York Times: President Trump fired at least 12 inspectors general late on Friday night, three people with knowledge of the matter said, capping a week of dramatic shake-ups of the federal government with a purge of independent watchdog officials created by Congress to root out abuse and illegality within federal agencies.

The move capped a week of major shake-ups of the federal bureaucracy focused on loyalty to the president, three people with knowledge of the matter said

Two people with knowledge of the matter said on Friday night that 17 inspectors general had been terminated; a third person said on Saturday morning that the figure was at least twelve. A White House spokesman would not comment for the record, and did not respond to a request for a list of those who had been terminated.

Presidents have the prerogative to dismiss inspectors general. However, they are supposed to give Congress 30 days’ notice before they do so and provide specific reasons. The White House spokesman did not respond to a question about why that law was not followed.

The report notes that Michael E. Horowitz, the inspector general for the Justice Department, was spared, according to sources familiar with the situation.

The Washington Post, who first reported on the firings, said inspectors general from at least 14 major federal agencies were fired:

Oversight of some of the government’s largest agencies was affected: the departments of Defense, State, Transportation, Labor, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, Commerce, and Agriculture, as well asthe Environmental Protection Agency, Small Business Administration and the Social Security Administration.

Liberals are fuming over the firings:

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) blasted out a number of posts on X, voicing his fury.

“In the dark of night, President Trump fired at least 12 independent inspector generals at important federal agencies across the Administration. A chilling purge. It’s a preview of the lawless approach Donald Trump and his administration is taking to being President,” he declared.

“These firings are Donald Trump’s way of telling us he is terrified of accountability and is hostile to facts and transparency,” Schumer continued.

“Donald Trump’s decision to fire twelve of the federal government’s independent watchdogs is a glaring sign that it’s a Golden Age for corruption and abuse in government,” he added.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) wrote, “The mass firing of Inspectors General by the Trump Administration without grounds and advance notice to Congress is a clear violation of the law. But, of course, we know the cause: Trump wants no accountability for malfeasance in office. He is refilling the swamp.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) raged, “It’s a purge of independent watchdogs in the middle of the night. Inspectors general are charged with rooting out government waste, fraud, abuse, and preventing misconduct. President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption.”

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