On Friday, January 24, the Trump administration fired over a dozen federal watchdogs (also known as inspectors general) from a multitude of US Government agencies. As many as 17 inspectors general at agencies including the Department of State, Defence and Transportation were terminated immediately through email from the White House contrary to federal law which requires 30 days’ notice to Congress to remove a watchdog. Individuals at the Department of Homeland Security and Justice were not part of this mass removal as the Washington Post, which was first to report on the dismissals said most people affected were appointees from Trump’s 2017-2021 term. In light of this sudden move by the Trump Administration which has only been in office for a week, this article will explore the role of independent inspectors and what these drastic changes will entail.
What is an Inspectors General or an Independent Watchdog?
Independent Watch Dogs were a product of the Watergate scandal which began in 1972. The controversy revolved around members of a group that was associated with Nixon’s 1972 re-election campaign who planted listening devices inside the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters at the Watergate Office Building. Upon investigation, journalists from the Washington Post uncovered a massive campaign of political spying and sabotage directed by White House Officials and illegally funded by donor contributions.
Inspectors general were subsequently created as part of a wave of reforms intended to curb corruption, fraud, and abuse in the government. These watchdogs were installed inside agencies as an independent check against mismanagement and misuse of power. They work closely with independent agencies but they are not controlled by the head of each agency. Even though they are presidential appointees, they are expected to be nonpartisan.
Is Trump’s Replacement of Inspectors Eroding Government Oversight?
Trump’s decision to eliminate these inspectors (numbers or specific names of fired inspectors are at the moment not confirmed) weakens a critical oversight component and clears the way for the President to replace them with loyalists. Even though the move was expected and in line with Trump’s actions which ranged from executive orders to impose hiring freezes to a crackdown on diversity, many were still shocked at the approach.
US President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One as he arrives in Las Vegas on January 24, 2025. Featured Image Courtesy of Mandel Ngan / AFP.
Democrats and watchdog groups used the dismissals to raise alarm that Trump was making it easier to take advantage of the government. Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer of New York remarked on Saturday that the president’s move “is a chilling purge and it’s a preview of the lawless approach Donald Trump and his administration are taking too often as he’s become president.” Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia, a Democrat who is ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform called the move “a coup to overthrow legally protected inspectors general.” He went on to add that “replacing independent inspectors general with political hacks will harm every American who relies on social security, veterans benefits, and a fair hearing at IRS on refunds and audits.”
Republican representatives seemed to concur with the fact that further explanations from President Trump were needed as to the legality of the removals. Republican Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa said in a statement: “There may be a good reason the IGs were fired. We need to know that if so. Regardless, the 30-day detailed notice of removal that the law demands was not provided to Congress.”
Removal of independent watchdogs throughout administrations is not uncommon as President Biden himself fired the inspector general of the US Railroad Retirement Board, Martin Dickman after a probe over a hostile work environment in late March of 2024. However, the issue that arises in this scenario is related to the way in which the Trump administration has chosen to remove these inspectors. Claims over the legality of the removals are expected to arise in the following days as the decision is expected to be contested. Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Whip Dick Durbin, stated that “these dismissals clearly violate federal law, which requires the President to provide Congress with 30-day notice of intent and detailed reasons to fire inspectors general.” An official statement by the White House on these dismissals is pending in order to facilitate further action in contesting the sacking.
A senior White House official confirmed to POLITICO that “some” inspectors general had been fired. Featured Image Courtesy of Mark Schiefelbein / AP.