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President Donald Trump’s decision late Friday night to fire 17 departmental inspectors general has sparked bipartisan criticism and raised questions about the move's rationale, given these officials' crucial role in combating waste, fraud, and abuse in federal agencies.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) voiced her confusion on Saturday regarding the dismissals. “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 upon arriving at the Capitol for a weekend vote.
The fired inspectors general, tasked with oversight at key agencies including the Departments of Defense, State, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Interior, and Housing and Urban Development, were removed without prior notice. Many Republican lawmakers admitted being caught off guard by the decision.
Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) expressed surprise. “Somebody just mentioned it to me downstairs as I was coming in. Just heard about it,” Barrasso stated.
Similarly, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) acknowledged he had limited information about the action. “I heard it, but I have not looked at it and don’t know what it all entails. Honestly, I would just be guessing at this point about what that actually entails. I’ll wait and find out what that means in terms of other people stepping in,” Rounds said.
The move triggered sharp criticism from Democrats, who accused Trump of undermining federal oversight mechanisms. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, argued that the president’s actions weaken the government’s ability to hold itself accountable.
“It’s part of his plan to undermine the functioning of the government of the United States so that there is no objective person that can make judgments about the propriety of his actions,” Reed said.
Reed emphasized the significance of inspectors general, particularly in the Department of Defense. “I would give the IG a good grade. They’re very thorough. They have to be that way. When they rendered a report, it was factual, accurate, and untainted by political bias or any other bias,” he added.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, also condemned the dismissals, emphasizing the importance of these roles in ensuring accountability. “It is alarming that President Trump is firing inspectors general from agencies across the federal government, including the Department of Agriculture, removing critical checks on his power,” she stated.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, accused the president of systematically dismantling government oversight protections. “Trump is systematically dismantling the protections against abuse, corruption, and fraud within the federal government,” Wyden said.
The surprise firings raise concerns about the broader implications for federal accountability and oversight, particularly as these inspectors general were tasked with investigating potential misconduct within their respective agencies.
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers continue to assess the impact of the decision, signaling potential congressional scrutiny in the weeks to come.
