Staff Reports
President Donald Trump is back in the game, taking steps to shake up federal watchdog agencies that many believe have turned into lapdogs for the bureaucratic elite. After a series of eye-roll-inducing incidents where these inspectors general (IGs) appeared to stick up for their respective agencies instead of ensuring accountability, Trump has decided to stop dancing around the issue. Word on the street is that nearly 20 IGs are on the chopping block, an action that has critics clutching their pearls and insisting that such a move might be illegal. Apparently, a law passed in 2022 now states that the President must inform Congress if he plans to give the ol’ heave-ho to an IG. But rules, right?
In typical Trump fashion, he didn’t take long to address the backlash. While aboard Air Force One, he clarified that firing IGs is as common as having a McDonald’s drive-thru line on a Saturday night. Trump noted that while some IGs were terminated, not all were shown the door—just the ones he deemed unnecessary or ineffective. For a guy who lives in a world of “you’re fired,” it’s just another day at the office for him.
Congressional Republicans have suddenly found their voices when it comes to the independence of these watchdogs, especially after facing resistance during oversight work under the Biden Administration. To them, Trump’s actions might be a way to clean house. A committee even pointed fingers at the Department of Defense’s IG for being less than forthcoming about security failures during the infamous January 6th riots. Emails between DOD IG Robert Storch and Congressional members seemed to raise some eyebrows, with reports suggesting that his office may have been tight with the Secretary of Defense—definitely not the kind of independence these watchdogs are supposed to have.
Trump fired 17 independent watchdogs at multiple government agencies Friday, eliminating a critical oversight component & clearing the way to replace them with loyalists.
Depts of state, defense, transportation notified by emails from the WH.
Trump by-passed 30-day notice. pic.twitter.com/bXHxUkUzGR— Blanche Victoria (@tammytabby) January 25, 2025
While critics have wasted no time decrying Trump’s thought process, claiming that he’s making a mockery of the law, they seem to overlook a point: the key factor here is transparency and accountability in a government that has a long history of dodging the spotlight. Lawmakers like Senator Adam Schiff are waving their flags of righteousness and calling foul, suggesting Trump’s actions are an attempt to bypass accountability for any potential foul play on his side. Irony seems to be lost on those criticizing Trump, given their own party’s record with transparency.
There’s also a worrisome echo of Reagan from these recent moves. The last president to dismiss inspectors general at a similar scale was Reagan himself, who apparently faced less vitriol because, well, he also nominated folks Congress actually liked. Ironically, this historical precedent may not speak well for Trump’s strategy unless he can offer up some decent replacements that don’t inspire cold sweats among lawmakers. After a term filled with controversy and impeachment inquiries, Trump’s plan to reset the oversight dynamic will surely keep D.C. buzzing. Expect lawsuits, drama, and perhaps some awkward dinners come Thanksgiving.
