‘Widespread Massacre’: Trump Fires 17 Inspectors General in Move That ‘Appeared To Violate Federal Law’
AP Photo/Rick Scuteri
President Donald Trump fired at least 17 inspectors general in a massive late-night purge on Friday evening. The terminations seemed to violate federal law.
The Washington Post first reported on the firings of 12 inspectors general at various agencies. Later, The New York Times reported that at least 17 had been removed. IGs possess investigative powers over their respective agencies where they probe potential waste, abuse, and corruption.
“The inspectors general were notified by emails from the White House personnel director that they had been terminated immediately, according to people familiar with the situation, who like others in this report spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private messages,” the Post reported. “The dismissals appeared to violate federal law, which requires Congress to receive 30 days’ notice of any intent to fire the inspectors general.”
The Post said inspectors general from the Departments of Defense, State, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Energy were terminated. Most of the IGs who were removed were appointed by Trump during his first term.
“It’s a widespread massacre,” said one IG who was dismissed Friday night. “Whoever Trump puts in now will be viewed as loyalists, and that undermines the entire system.”
Another terminated IG told the Post that Trump “does not want anyone in this role who is going to be independent.”
One executive in an affected IG office said, “This is totally unprecedented. It’s what we were fearing.”
In a statement to The New York Times, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) blasted the terminations.
“Inspectors general are charged with rooting out government waste, fraud, abuse and preventing misconduct,” she said in a statement. “President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption.”
The Times noted that Department of Justice Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz was not one of those dismissed. Trump appointed him to his post in 2020.
