A former inspector general (IG) who was dismissed on Friday expressed grave concerns over President Donald Trump’s recent decision to terminate 17 independent watchdogs across various federal agencies, labeling it a “threat to democracy” and a significant blow to government transparency.
The dismissals affected IGs from multiple departments, including the Defense Department, State Department, Energy Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Reports indicate that these officials were notified of their terminations via email from the White House Presidential Personnel Office, as first reported by the Washington Post.
Mike Ware, who previously chaired the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, shared his experience on MSNBC’s “Ana Cabrera Reports,” revealing that he and his fellow watchdogs received their termination notices through email on Friday.
Ware described the mass firings as “alarming,” emphasizing that the IGs are meant to be independent and are not aligned with any administration. Their primary role is to ensure that taxpayer funds are used efficiently, without fraud or waste.
In a significant move in 2022, Congress enacted reforms aimed at bolstering protections for IGs, making it more challenging to replace them with political appointees. These reforms require the president to provide a legitimate explanation for any removals.
Ware suggested that Trump’s administration may not have adhered to these protections, as the reasons for the mass dismissals lacked clarity. He stated, “We’re looking at what amounts to a threat to democracy, a threat to independent oversight and a threat to transparency in government. The statute isn’t just a technicality; it’s a key protection of IG independence.”
He further asserted that if the new administration selectively follows the IG Act, it undermines the very essence of independent oversight within the U.S. government.
This latest incident marks another chapter in Trump’s ongoing efforts to reshape the federal bureaucracy, following previous actions that included shutting down diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, rescinding job offers, and sidelining over 150 national security and foreign policy officials.
As Trump embarks on his second term, he appears focused on removing any dissenters from his administration, aiming to install officials who will carry out his directives without question. During his first term, he notably fired four IGs within a span of two months in 2020, including the State Department IG, who had played a pivotal role in the impeachment proceedings against him.