President Donald Trump dismissed at least 12 internal government watchdogs late Friday, marking the latest in a series of high-profile personnel changes just days into his second term.
According to reports from US media, independent inspectors general from at least a dozen federal agencies received notifications of their immediate termination via emails from the White House personnel director.
Inspectors general play a critical oversight role, tasked with identifying and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse within government agencies.
They investigate violations of laws, regulations, and ethical standards, and conduct audits on contracts, financial matters, and staff performance.
The agencies affected by the firings included the Departments of Defense, State, Interior, and Energy, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Social Security Administration, The Washington Post reported.
The mass dismissals were described as a “widespread massacre” by one of the ousted inspectors general, who expressed concern that the new appointees would be seen as Trump loyalists, undermining the watchdog system.
Most of the officials fired had been appointed during Trump’s first term.
The New York Times reported that as many as 17 inspectors general were dismissed, although sources clarified that the Justice Department’s watchdog was spared from this purge.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts condemned the firings as a “purge” and criticized the timing of the dismissals, calling it a dismantling of checks and balances.
“Inspectors general are charged with rooting out government waste, fraud, abuse, and preventing misconduct,” she said on social media platform X.
“President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption.”
On his first full day back in office, Trump revealed plans to remove around 1,000 government employees he views as adversaries.
