Trump Fires Wave Of Inspectors General Amid Ongoing ‘Deep State’ Purge

The political landscape in Washington was rocked on Friday after President Donald Trump dismissed a significant number of inspectors general, sparking bipartisan backlash from Congress.

According to Fox News, the president removed 17 independent watchdogs from various federal agencies via email as part of his swift efforts to reshape the federal government.

Inspectors general from the Defense Department, State Department, Energy Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Veterans Affairs, and others were among those dismissed. One former inspector general described the move as “a widespread massacre” during an interview with the Washington Post.

“Whoever Trump puts in now will be viewed as loyalists, and that undermines the entire system,” another inspector general remarked.

Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed concerns that the president’s actions might contravene federal law. The law mandates that Congress receive a 30-day notice prior to an inspector general’s removal.

“There may be good reason the IGs were fired. We need to know that if so,” Grassley told the Associated Press. “I’d like further explanation from President Trump. Regardless, the 30-day detailed notice of removal that the law demands was not provided to Congress.”

President Trump defended his decision while aboard Air Force One en route to Florida.

“It’s a very common thing to do,” Trump said.

“I don’t know them,” he added, referring to the inspectors general. “But some people thought that some were unfair or some were not doing their job. It’s a very standard thing to do.”

The president also insisted that new appointees would remain independent.

“They’re not my people,” he explained. “I don’t know anybody that would do that. But we’ll put people in there that will be very good.”

Despite his reassurances, Democrats were outraged by the move.

Led by Virginia Representative Gerald E. Connolly, several Democratic lawmakers sent a letter demanding the reappointment of the dismissed inspectors general.

“We write to express our grave concern about your recent attempt to unlawfully and arbitrarily remove more than a dozen independent, nonpartisan inspectors general without notice to Congress or the public and in the dead of night. Your actions violate the law, attack our democracy, and undermine the safety of the American people,” the letter stated.

“Firing inspectors general without due cause is antithetical to good government, undermines the proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and degrades the federal government’s ability to function effectively and efficiently,” the letter continued. “We urge you to withdraw your unlawful action and comply with your obligations to the American people.”

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the firings in a post on X.

“It’s a purge of independent watchdogs in the middle of the night. Inspectors general are charged with rooting out government waste, fraud, abuse, and preventing misconduct. President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption,” she wrote.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also condemned the president’s actions during a Senate floor speech.

“This is a chilling purge, and it’s a preview of the lawless approach Donald Trump and his administration is taking far too often as he is becoming President,” Schumer said on Saturday.

“These dismissals are possibly in violation of federal law, which requires Congress to have a 30-day notice of any intent to fire inspectors general,” he emphasized.

“These firings are Donald Trump’s way of telling us he is terrified of accountability and is hostile to facts and to transparency,” Schumer concluded.

Republican Senator Susan Collins also expressed her dissatisfaction with the president’s decision, stating, “I don’t understand why one would fire individuals whose mission…is to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. This leaves a gap in what I know is a priority for President Trump.”

“So, I don’t understand it,” she added on Saturday.