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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s late-night firing of 17 inspectors general, describing the move as a “chilling purge” that undermines accountability and transparency in the federal government. Speaking on the Senate floor Saturday, Schumer called the action a troubling preview of Trump’s approach to governance.
“This is a chilling purge, and it’s a preview of the lawless approach Donald Trump and his administration are taking far too often as he becomes President,” Schumer said. He noted that these dismissals might violate federal law, which requires Congress to be given 30 days’ notice before inspectors general can be removed.
The Trump administration’s firings, first reported by The Washington Post, targeted watchdogs from multiple federal agencies, including the Departments of State, Defense, Transportation, and Energy. Inspectors general serve a vital role as independent watchdogs, investigating allegations of abuse of power, fraud, and waste in the government.
Schumer argued that Trump’s actions reveal his hostility toward oversight. “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.
Some Republicans also expressed confusion over Trump’s decision, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who voiced her concerns during a Saturday morning vote. “I don’t understand why one would fire individuals whose mission it is to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. This leaves a gap in what I know is a priority for President Trump. So, I don’t understand it,” Collins said.
Schumer’s criticism echoed sentiments from Democratic lawmakers like Reps. Angie Craig (Minn.) and Gerry Connolly (Va.), who also condemned the firings. Craig, a ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, called the dismissals “alarming and unprecedented.”
“This midnight purge of inspectors general, including at the USDA, is alarming and unprecedented,” Craig said in a statement.
“While the president has the right to replace inspectors general, the late-night firing of these independent watchdogs not only violates the law but also hampers our ability to combat waste, fraud, and abuse and ensure programs are run as Congress intended, whether it’s disaster assistance for farmers or nutrition programs.”
Schumer emphasized the importance of retaining oversight mechanisms to prevent corruption. “We’re a fact-based society. We lose that, we lose the core of America,” he said. “Donald Trump’s decision to fire 17 of the federal government’s independent watchdogs is a glaring sign that it’s a Golden Age for abuse in government and even corruption.”
As the firings continue to draw bipartisan criticism, lawmakers are questioning the legality of the administration’s actions and their implications for government accountability.
