Late Friday night, I watched in disbelief as President Donald Trump fired over a dozen inspectors general via email. These officials, meant to be the watchdogs of government agencies, were removed without the legally required 30-day notice to Congress. It was a chilling reminder of how Trump operates—silencing oversight and rewarding loyalty.
The firings hit key agencies like the Pentagon, State Department, Veterans Affairs, and the Interior Department. Many of these officials had served since his first term, making it clear this was a targeted purge. Having covered politics for years, I’ve seen administrations shake up agencies, but this was different—blatant and unapologetic.
Trump wasted no time reshaping the government. Within days of returning to office, he slashed diversity programs, rescinded job offers, and sidelined over 150 national security officials. His mission is clear: eliminate career professionals who might challenge him and install loyalists who won’t.
Even some Republicans, like Senator Chuck Grassley, expressed concern, pointing out the violation of federal law. Meanwhile, Senator Elizabeth Warren called it what it was—an attack on government accountability. Trump's allies, however, dismissed the role of inspectors general altogether, calling them ineffective.
As a journalist, I can’t ignore the implications. Without independent oversight, corruption festers. Trump isn’t just firing people—he’s eroding the very foundations of government accountability. The question now is, will Congress and the American people push back, or will they allow democracy to unravel?
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