The top line
President Donald Trump fired more than a dozen inspectors general on Friday, signaling the removal of government watchdogs from several agencies. Multiple ReportsWhich in turn raises bipartisan concerns about whether the shooting is legal.
It was not immediately clear whether the firing was legal, as required by the Trump administration. … [+]
Key facts
The White House notified several inspectors general via email, including Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, State, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, Education, Energy, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor and Defense. Officials of Environmental Protection Departments. agencies, the Social Security Administration and the Small Business Administration, people familiar with the layoffs said Politics And The Washington Post.
Politico reported that the inspectors general of some agencies were not fired, however, including Justice and Homeland Security, the Office of Personnel Management, the Federal Communications Commission and the Export-Import Bank.
It was not immediately clear why Trump fired him: Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, suggested “There may be a good reason” the officials were fired, though Grassley said he would “want more explanation” from Trump.
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Chief critic
Small Business Administration Inspector General Hannibal Ware disputed their dismissals in an email to the White House, saying the ousted officials were “not convinced that the actions taken were legally sufficient.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Called Firing is a “cooling purge”. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Accused Trump has “removed checks on his power and paved the way for widespread corruption”. Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., Called The dismissals were a “Friday night coup” and an “assault on transparency and accountability,” suggesting Trump’s changes would be a “political hack.”
What is Inspector General?
Congress created the role of inspector general in 1978 to improve oversight within federal agencies. Officials conduct independent investigations and audits of federal spending and operations before reporting their findings to Congress and the public.
Can Donald Trump fire the inspector general?
Yes and no. Trump has executive authority to remove inspectors general, even if Congress has given approval. Reservations In 2022, officials are required to provide the White House with 30 days’ notice and a “compelling rationale” for the decision. If Trump had notified the inspectors general of his firing shortly after his inauguration on January 20, the officials would have been removed by February 19.
Have the first inspector generals been fired?
Shortly after President Ronald Reagan took office in 1981, Reagan fired all 15 acting inspectors general and replaced them with his own nominees. According to To the Congressional Research Service. Reagan later rehired half of the fired officials. President Barack Obama removed the inspector general of the National Community Service Corporation in 2009. President Joe Biden removed an inspector general from the Railroad Retirement Board in 2024. Trump fired five inspectors general during his first term in 2020, including Michael Atkinson. Warned Congress A whistleblower complaint led to Trump’s first impeachment.
Key background
Trump has removed several Biden administration officials and appointees since returning to the White House. The Trump administration placed all diversity, equity and inclusion employees on leave and reassigned at least 20 DOJ officials on Tuesday. The move comes shortly after Trump fired celebrity chef Jose Andres from the President’s Council on Sports, retired General Mark Milley from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, former Atlanta Mayor Kesha Lance Bottoms from the President’s Export Council, and former Iran Ambassador Brian Hook, from the Wilson Center for Scholars think tank. Other executive orders made by Trump addressed federal employees, including hiring freezes and directing agencies to use work-from-home programs. Trump has signaled broader cuts to the federal government in the run-up to his election, adding to the announcement by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Further reading
