In a bold move late Friday, President Donald Trump dismissed 12 internal government watchdogs, marking a significant shift early in his second term. The White House personnel director informed the inspectors general of at least 12 federal agencies of their immediate firing via email, according to US media reports.
These inspectors general play a crucial role in overseeing government activities, ensuring transparency by investigating fraud, waste, and abuse within federal agencies. They are tasked with investigating legal violations, ethical breaches, and conducting audits of contracts, finances, and performance.
The departments affected include the Departments of Defence, State, Interior, and Energy, along with agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and Social Security Administration.
An unnamed fired inspector general described the purge as a “widespread massacre”, with concerns that those now appointed by Trump will be loyalists, compromising the independence of the watchdog system.
While some reports mention 17 inspectors general being fired, the Justice Department’s watchdog was notably not affected. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned the firings, calling them “a purge” intended to dismantle checks on Trump’s power, accusing him of creating room for corruption.
Trump’s first full day in office was marked by sweeping plans to remove 1,000 government opponents, signaling a broader overhaul of the federal system. His early executive actions have sparked significant controversy, particularly in areas like immigration, citizenship, and climate policies, many of which are now facing legal challenges.
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