President Donald Trump fired at least 12 inspectors general in the federal government in an effort to let go of parts of the past Biden administration that do not align with his own administration. The move did not affect the inspectors general for the Justice Department or the Department of Homeland Security. The legal justification for the firings is unclear, as Congress amended the Inspector General Act in 2022 to strengthen protections for inspectors general from undue terminations. The law requires a 30-day notice to Congress before an inspector general can be removed. Despite concerns about the legality of the firings, the White House official said legal counsel reviewed the decisions and did not believe any laws were broken.
Inspectors general are typically seen as independent figures within government agencies responsible for conducting objective audits and investigating allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse of power. The firing of these inspectors general drew swift condemnation from Democrats, who called it a “chilling purge” and argued that it could be in violation of federal law. Critics raised concerns about Trump’s desire to remove checks and balances within the government and pave the way for corruption. The executive director of the Project on Government Oversight expressed skepticism that the administration would get away with the firings, suggesting that legal challenges may arise. Overall, the firings have been met with significant backlash and accusations of undermining transparency and accountability within the government.
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