President Donald Trump has carried out a significant purge of inspectors general across multiple federal agencies. On Friday, January 24, 2025, Trump fired independent inspector generals in the Department of State, Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior, Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Education, Department of Labor, Department of Defense, Small Business Administration, U.S. Energy Corp. (likely referring to the Department of Energy), Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Commerce and the Social Security Administration. The dismissals began on Friday night and were effective immediately.
The Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Office of Personnel Management, Federal Communications Commission, and Export-Import Bank were not affected by this purge.
Inspectors General serve as critical watchdogs within the federal government, helping to ensure that agencies operate efficiently, effectively, and in compliance with laws and regulations. They have broad authority to:
- Access agency records and information directly
- Request assistance from other government agencies
- Issue subpoenas for information and documents
- Administer oaths when conducting interviews
- Hire and manage their own staff and resources
A key function of IGs is to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse within federal programs and operations. They achieve this by:
- Conducting performance audits of agency programs and operations
- Overseeing audits of agency expenditures
- Investigating allegations of employee misconduct
- Evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of agency activities
IGs are responsible for promoting economy, effectiveness, and efficiency in agency programs and operations. This involves:
- Recommending policies to improve agency performance
- Identifying ways to increase federal efficiency
- Evaluating pending legislation and regulations that may affect the agency
Inspector generals report to both the agency head and Congress through Audit, investigative, and inspection reports. They also report suspected criminal violations to the Attorney General.
What is the importance of Inspector General independence?
The independence of Inspectors General (IGs) is crucial for their effectiveness in promoting government accountability and transparency. This importance has been recognized since the inception of the modern IG system, but it has been reinforced and strengthened over time.
The concept of IG independence has been a cornerstone of the modern IG system since its establishment, but it has evolved and been strengthened over time:
- Inspector General Act of 1978: This landmark legislation established the foundation for IG independence by creating statutorily independent IG offices within federal agencies.
- 1988 Amendments: The IG Act was amended to expand the number of statutory IGs and further reinforce their independence.
- Inspector General Reform Act of 2008: This act strengthened IG independence by increasing their resources and holding them more accountable for their performance.
- Inspector General Empowerment Act of 2016: This legislation further bolstered IG independence by clarifying their authority to access all agency records.
- Securing Inspector General Independence Act of 2022: This recent act expanded protections for IGs being removed, transferred, or placed on non-duty status, further safeguarding their independence.
Presidential Authority to Remove and Appoint an Inspector General
The President has the authority to remove an Inspector General from office. However, this power is subject to certain procedural requirements. The President must communicate in writing to both Houses of Congress the intent to remove an IG. This notification must be provided at least 30 days before the removal or transfer of the IG. The written communication to Congress must include a substantive rationale for the removal and detailed and case-specific reasons for the action.
The Jan. 24 dismissals appear to violate federal law requiring a 30-day notice to Congress before removing Inspectors General.
The President also has the authority to appoint an Inspector General with the approval of the Senate. Appointments should be made strictly based on the candidates’ integrity and their proven competence in fields relevant to the agency’s focus, without consideration of their political affiliations.
The White House has not provided immediate comments on the firings or replacement plans. During Trump’s transition back to the White House, there were conversations about ousting these government watchdogs.
During his first term, President Trump dismissed five inspectors general from various cabinet departments over a six-week period in April and May 2020. Trump did not give notice to the Senate when he dismissed those IGs, either.
