The DC swamp was shaken on Friday after President Donald Trump fired a trove of inspectors general, but now even some Republicans are siding with Democrats in Congress in demanding answers.
The president axed 17 independent watchdogs at various federal agencies via email as he continues to move at breakneck speed in his reshaping of the federal government, Fox News reported.
Inspectors general at the Defense Department, State Department, Energy Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Veterans Affairs, and others were terminated in what one of the former inspectors general said was “a widespread massacre” in an interview with the Washington Post.
“Whoever Trump puts in now will be viewed as loyalists, and that undermines the entire system,” one IG said.
Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that the actions taken by the president might violate federal law, which states that Congress must be given a 30-day notice before an inspector general is terminated.
“There may be a good reason the IGs were fired. We need to know that if so,” the senator 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.”
Trump defended his actions during a flight to Florida when he was asked about it on Air Force One.
“It’s a prevalent thing to do,” he said.
“I don’t know them,” the president said. “But some people thought that some were unfair or not doing their job. It’s a very standard thing to do.”
He said that he would put new people in the roles but that they would stay independent.
“They’re not my people,” the president said. “I don’t know anybody that would do that. But we’ll put people in there that will be very good.”
However, his assurance did not assuage the concerns of Democrats, many of whom were incensed by his decision.
Led by Rep. Gerald E. Connolly of Virginia, a group of Democrats penned a letter to the president insisting that he rehire the same inspectors general.
“We 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,” they said.
“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. We urge you to withdraw your unlawful action and comply with your obligations to the American people,” the ranking Democrats on the various committees who saw their inspectors general axed said.
Massachusetts Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren was hyperbolic in a screed on X after the announcement.
“It’s a purge of independent watchdogs in the middle of the night. Inspectors general are charged with rooting out government waste, fraud, and abuse, and preventing misconduct. President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption,” she wrote.
Senate Minority Leader and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer was infuriated as well during a floor speech in the Senate.
“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,” he 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 insisted.
“These firings are Donald Trump’s way of telling us he is terrified of accountability and is hostile to facts and to transparency,” he said.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who voted no on Pete Hegseth, his defense secretary nominee, was also furious and demanded answers.
“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,” she said on Saturday. “So, I don’t understand it.”
