U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed the independent inspectors general of several major government agencies, including the departments of Defense, State, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Energy.
Reports from The Washington Post and The New York Times indicate that 17 agencies were impacted, though the Inspector General of the Department of Justice, Michael Horowitz, was spared.
The mass dismissals have raised concerns, as they appear to violate federal law, which mandates that Congress must be notified 30 days in advance of any intent to remove an inspector general.
Inspectors general hold independent roles, conducting audits and investigations into waste, fraud, and abuse within federal agencies. While they can be removed by the president or the head of the agency, depending on their appointment, the swift dismissals have drawn significant attention.
Most of those dismissed were appointed during Trump’s first term (2017-2021). The individuals affected were notified via emails from the White House personnel director, informing them of their immediate termination.
