WASHINGTON, D.C.—President Donald J Trump fired at least 15 inspectors general at multiple government agencies late on Friday, January 24, 2025, effective immediately.
The late-night purge has drawn heavy criticism from Democrat lawmakers:
Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01): “Trump illegally purged the independent watchdogs at a swath of federal agencies last night who root out taxpayer waste, fraud, & abuse in the government. He will replace them with loyalists who will turn a blind eye to corruption at the cost of your tax dollars.”
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA): “Trump is illegally mass firing the independent inspectors general who are the nonpartisan watchdogs we rely on to root out fraud, waste, and corruption in government. Ask yourself: why would Trump want to fire the people tasked with tackling corruption?”
Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: “Trump’s Friday night coup to overthrow legally protected independent inspectors general is an attack on transparency and accountability, essential ingredients in our democratic form of government. Replacing independent inspectors general with political hacks will harm every American who relies on social security, veterans’ benefits, and a fair hearing at IRS on refunds and audits.”
Democratic lawmakers are calling the move illegal stating in a letter to Sergi Gor, White House personnel director, that the law requires a president to give Congress “substantive rationale, including detailed and case specific reasons” for the dismissals 30 days in advance, according to Reuters.
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), in a statement to Reuters, shared that he wanted to know why Trump fired IGSs adding that the Congress was not given a 30-day notice: “There may be good reason the IGs were fired. We need to know that if so. I’d like further explanation from President Trump.”
An inspector general is an independent position that conducts audits and investigations into allegations of waste, fraud and abuse of power, similar to the role of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.
Below is a list of inspectors general that were reported to have been fired by President Donald Trump in his recent actions:
- State Department: Cardell Richardson Sr.
- Defense Department: Unspecified, but reported as part of the purge.
- Transportation Department: Unspecified, but included in the list of dismissals.
- Veterans Affairs Department: Unspecified, but part of the reported firings.
- Housing and Urban Development Department: Unspecified, but included.
- Agriculture Department: Unspecified, but reported.
- Interior Department: Unspecified, but mentioned.
- Education Department: Unspecified, but confirmed.
- Energy Department: Unspecified, but part of the dismissals.
- Commerce Department: Unspecified, but included.
- Health and Human Services Department: Christi Grimm.
- Labor Department: Unspecified, but part of the group.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Sean O’Donnell.
- Social Security Administration: Unspecified, but reported.
- Small Business Administration: Hannibal “Mike” Ware.
Author: Mario Lotmore
