Trump Fires 12 Independent Inspectors General

The Trump administration has dismissed at least 12 independent inspectors general (IGs) from key federal agencies in a sweeping move that has raised concerns about political influence and transparency in government oversight.

According to reports from American media outlets, the purge affected inspectors working within prominent agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Energy.

The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources, confirmed that the dismissals occurred late on Friday.

The New York Times reported that the purge extended to 17 agencies, though the Inspector General of the Department of Justice, Michael Horowitz, was notably excluded from the shakeup.

The Washington Post further noted that the dismissals may violate federal law, which mandates that Congress be notified at least 30 days before any intention to remove an inspector general.

The sudden nature of the firings has raised questions about whether the move could undermine the independence of oversight offices within the federal government.