President Donald Trump fired at least 12 federal government inspectors general on Friday, as confirmed by a senior White House official to NBC News.
However, the inspectors general for the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security were not affected by this move.
When questioned about the reasons behind these firings, the official stated that the President was attempting to eliminate certain aspects of the previous Biden administration that no longer align with the Trump administration’s policies.
The official emphasized that the administration is “cleaning house” of what is no longer effective and moving forward.
However, the legal justification for these firings is uncertain, considering that Congress recently strengthened protections for inspectors general by amending the Inspector General Act in 2022.
This amendment requires a 30-day notification window between the White House and Congress before an inspector general can be removed from on-duty status. Additionally, the White House must provide substantive reasons for the removal.
When asked if the White House was concerned about the legality of these firings, given the mandatory congressional notice, the official stated that many of these decisions are reviewed by legal counsel. The official also mentioned that they were consulting with the White House counsel’s office but did not believe the administration had violated any laws.
The firings were initially reported by The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Inspectors general are usually considered independent figures within government agencies. Their primary responsibility is to conduct objective audits within their respective agencies and investigate allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse of power within their departments.
In response to the firings, Mike Ware, the head of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, sent a letter to his fellow inspectors general. He inquired about their termination and informed them that his council was coordinating a response to the White House. The council aims to ensure accountability for all PAS IGs who have received notifications.
NBC News confirmed that Ware also sent a letter on behalf of CIGIE to the White House and lawmakers on Capitol Hill regarding the firings.
In the letter, Ware addressed the legality of the actions taken, stating, “At this point, we do not believe the actions taken are legally sufficient to dismiss Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed Inspectors General.”
Ware was among the inspectors general who were fired by Trump on Friday. The Department of Education confirmed that its department’s inspector general was also among those fired on the same day.
Trump’s move received immediate condemnation from Democrats on Friday night and early Saturday.
In a speech on the Senate floor on Saturday morning, Senator Schumer condemned the firings of at least 12 independent inspector generals at significant federal agencies across the administration, describing them as a “chilling purge.” He asserted that this move serves as a preview of the lawless approach adopted by President Trump and his administration, which he believes is becoming increasingly frequent as Trump ascends to the presidency.
Schumer further emphasized that these dismissals may potentially violate federal law, which mandates that Congress receive at least 30 days’ notice of any intention to fire inspectors general.
Danielle Brian, the executive director of the nonprofit and nonpartisan Project on Government Oversight, expressed her concerns about the legality of the firings and Trump’s apparent desire to eliminate “checks and balances.”
Brian stated, “It is evident that this move underscores the White House’s genuine intent to dismantle checks and balances. This was their sole tool to combat waste, fraud, and corruption, yet they have inadvertently undermined their own efforts.”
She expressed her skepticism about the likelihood of Trump successfully evading legal consequences for these actions.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, also condemned the firings, referring to them as a “purge” and asserting that President Trump is dismantling checks on his power, thereby paving the way for widespread corruption.
In a statement, Representative Gerry Connolly, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, vehemently criticized Trump’s decision, labeling it a “Friday night coup” and an “attack on transparency and accountability.”
NBC News
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