Late on Friday, President Donald Trump terminated at least a dozen internal government watchdogs. It was part of the reshuffle of his second term that started just a few days back. The White House personnel director communicated the termination in emails to the inspectors general of 12 federal agencies, reports The Washington Post.
These inspectors general have a vital role in the supervision and investigation of fraud, waste, and abuse in the government. Their functions also involve auditing contracts, finances, and staff performance. Among the departments involved in these dismissals are defense, state, interior, energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Social Security Administration.
According to one of the inspectors general fired, the scenario was “a wholesale slaughter.” He said any appointees made by Trump will likely be regarded as loyalists, which will damage the process. Most of the officials that were dismissed were appointed by Trump in his first term, though it has been reported that 17 inspectors general have been dismissed. However, Justice Department’s inspector general was not on the list.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren called the move “a purge. in the middle of the night.” She argued that inspectors general were essential for rooting out waste, fraud, and misconduct, and claimed that Trump’s actions were dismantling the checks on his power, opening the door for widespread corruption.
This shake-up follows an announcement that Trump made on his first full day back in office announcing his plans to remove about 1,000 opponents from the U.S. government. Since he began his second term, Trump has acted very fast on many policies concerning immigration, citizenship, gender, diversity, and climate with some already facing court challenges.