In an unprecedented late-night move on Friday, President Donald Trump dismissed 17 inspectors general, key government watchdogs responsible for overseeing federal agencies. The firings, which critics described as a “massacre,” have raised concerns about the erosion of government accountability and the potential for widespread corruption.
Notably, Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz, appointed during the Obama administration, was not among those removed, according to The New York Times.
Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned the action, stating, “Inspectors general are charged with rooting out government waste, fraud, and abuse. President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption.”
One of the dismissed officials told The Washington Post, “This is a widespread massacre. Whoever Trump installs will be seen as loyalists, undermining the system’s integrity.”
The firings, which affected multiple agencies including State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs, appear to contravene federal law requiring Congress to be notified 30 days before the dismissal of Senate-confirmed inspectors general. Critics argue the removals are a calculated attempt to fill the roles with individuals loyal to Trump.
Emails from the White House personnel office notified the inspectors general of their immediate termination. Most of those dismissed were appointees from Trump’s first term.
This action mirrors similar moves during Trump’s previous tenure, including the 2020 dismissal of Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community inspector general who handled the whistleblower complaint leading to Trump’s first impeachment.
The firings have drawn comparisons to Trump’s past efforts to reshape government oversight. Horowitz, who remains in his post, previously investigated FBI actions during the 2016 campaign, delivering a report that angered Trump by both justifying the probe’s basis and criticizing certain FBI actions.
Observers warn that the move risks undermining the independence of watchdogs tasked with exposing fraud and abuse. “IGs have done exactly what the president says he wants—fighting fraud and waste,” one inspector general told The Post. “Firing this many of us contradicts those goals.”
The firings come as Trump faces growing criticism over his approach to governance, raising questions about the balance of power and the future of government oversight.
