Trump's Late-Night Purge: 17 Inspectors General Fired in Unprecedented Move, Challenging Government Accountability and Oversight. President Donald Trump has executed a sweeping and controversial dismissal of independent federal watchdogs, firing approximately 17 inspectors general across multiple government agencies in a late-night purge. The mass terminations, which occurred on Friday night, targeted inspectors general from critical departments including State, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Labor, and Defense, as well as the Small Business Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.

The firings have raised significant legal and political concerns, as they appear to violate the 2022 federal law requiring a 30-day notification to Congress before removing inspectors general. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican, publicly expressed concern about the lack of proper notification, stating, "There may be good reason the IGs were fired. We need to know that if so." Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, characterized the action as a "chilling purge" that undermines government accountability. The White House dismissed the inspectors general via emails from the Presidential Personnel Office, providing minimal explanation, with at least one email citing "changing priorities" as the rationale.

The dismissals represent a significant assault on the traditional oversight mechanisms established in the post-Watergate era. Inspectors general are designed to function as independent watchdogs within federal agencies, responsible for uncovering government waste, fraud, and potential misconduct. Senator Elizabeth Warren described the action as "dismantling restrictions on his authority and setting the stage for extensive corruption". Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, warned that the administration was deliberately eliminating crucial checks and balances, potentially harming governmental transparency and accountability.

Notably, some inspectors general were spared from the purge, including those at the Department of Justice, Office of Personnel Management, Federal Communications Commission, Export-Import Bank, and Department of Homeland Security. The White House defended the firings, with a senior official stating they were "clearing out what is ineffective" and consulting with legal counsel. However, critics argue that the mass dismissal represents a troubling pattern of presidential overreach, reminiscent of Trump's earlier actions in 2020 when he removed five inspectors general during the coronavirus pandemic. The legal ambiguity surrounding these terminations suggests potential future legal challenges and continued political controversy.