Trump Fires 17 Inspectors General in Late-Night Purge

President Trump terminated 17 inspectors general, who serve as internal watchdogs monitoring federal agencies, on Friday night. This move comes after a week of significant changes within the federal bureaucracy, focusing on loyalty to the president, as reported by sources familiar with the situation.

Although Michael E. Horowitz, the inspector general for the Justice Department, was not affected by the firings, inspectors general at several other key agencies were reportedly dismissed.

The Washington Post initially broke the news about the terminations. As of now, the White House has not responded to requests for comment.

These actions have raised concerns about the independence of these watchdogs, with critics of President Trump expressing alarm.

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts stated, “Inspectors general are responsible for uncovering government waste, fraud, abuse, and preventing misconduct. President Trump’s actions are eroding the checks on his power and setting the stage for widespread corruption.”

During the Trump transition, there were indications that such a shake-up was in the cards. This move aligns with President Trump’s earlier actions in 2020 when he removed five inspectors general from their positions.

At that time, President Trump was not only addressing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic but also making efforts to reshape the government by removing individuals he perceived as working against him. This included Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the U.S. intelligence community, who handled the whistle-blower complaint leading to President Trump’s first impeachment.

Democrats have criticized President Trump for attempting to weaken these independent offices.

Mr. Horowitz submitted a report to the Justice Department in late 2019 regarding the F.B.I.’s investigation into potential links between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election.

While Mr. Horowitz concluded that the F.B.I. had a valid reason to initiate the investigation, he raised concerns about the warrant application to surveil Carter Page, a Trump campaign adviser. He also noted that former F.B.I. Director James B. Comey violated department policy with his memos on interactions with President Trump.

The Justice Department decided not to prosecute Mr. Comey, a move that displeased President Trump.