On January 24, President Trump removed at least 17 inspectors general, the executive branch watchdogs who conduct audits and investigations of executive branch actions. Trump defied a 2022 law that required congressional notice of the terminations, which Trump did not give.
The Washington Post, which first reported the firings, said that many were appointees from Trump’s first term. Among those inspectors general reported removed included those for the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense and Education
What is the mission of the Inspectors General?
The primary mission of IGs is to detect and deter waste, fraud, and abuse, and to promote economy, efficiency, and integrity within their agencies. IGs pursue this mission by conducting audits, evaluations, investigations, and special reviews relating to agency personnel and programs.
According to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, IGs are nonpartisan and are appointed without regard to their political affiliation. Of the 73 federal IGs, approximately half are appointed by the President subject to Senate confirmation, and the other half are appointed by the agency head. IGs do not have a term of office and, unlike almost all other Presidential appointees, normally remain in their positions when Administrations change.
Only the President can remove an IG, and the President must give the reasons for any removal to both Houses of Congress.
IGs have uncovered and reported on many high-profile problems across Government agencies, such as the FBI’s misuse of national security letters, corruption in the Department of the Interior related to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and widespread health care fraud.
Each year, IGs help return billions of dollars to the U.S. Treasury in investigative recoveries and make audit recommendations for additional billions of dollars in potential savings. For example, for each $1 spent on federal IG budgets, the potential savings to the federal government from IG audits and investigations averaged $14.
Per the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, the Inspector General’s mission is to:
- Conduct independent and objective audits, investigations and inspections
- Prevent and detect waste, fraud and abuse,
- Promote economy, effectiveness and efficiency,
- Review pending legislation and regulation, and
- Keep the agency head and Congress fully and currently informed.
Are IG independent?
Yes, IGs are independent. While by law, IG’s are under the general supervision of the agency head or deputy, neither the agency head nor the deputy can prevent or prohibit an IG from conducting an audit or investigation.
The IGs are authorized to:
- have direct access to all records and information of the agency,
- have ready access to the agency head,
- conduct such investigations and issue such reports as the IG thinks appropriate (with limited national security and law enforcement exceptions),
- issue subpoenas for information and documents outside the agency (with same limited exceptions),
- administer oaths for taking testimony, and
- hire and control their own staff and contract resources.
- The IGs serve under the general supervision of the agency head. Yet, by statute, IGs have a dual and independent reporting relationship to the agency head and to the Congress.
- Allegations of misconduct against an IG should be referred to the Integrity Committee of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE).
SOURCE: https://www.ignet.gov/content/frequently-asked-questions
Reaction to the TRUMP 2025 mass IG firings
The January 2025 firings prompted several types of response from Congress:
- Failure in Required Notice: According to the Associated Press, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a supporter of the inspectors general, said that there “may be good reason the IGs were fired. We need to know that if so.” Senator Grassley said, “I’d like further explanation from President Trump. Regardless, the 30 day detailed notice of removal that the law demands was not provided to Congress.”
- Threat to Accountability: Senator Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) argued that the firings were an effort by President Trump “to once again place himself and his administration above accountability. . . . This is a chilling purge, and it’s a preview of the lawless approach Donald Trump and his administration is taking far too often as he is becoming President.”
- Threat of Corruption: Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wrote on X that “President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption.”
SOURCE: https://publicprocurementinternational.com/trump-igs-in-depth-assessment/
Please follow and like us:
