Donald Trump fires independent inspectors general at 17 federal agencies

In 2020, during his presidency, Donald Trump took significant action by removing a number of independent inspectors general (IGs) across various federal agencies. These inspectors general are crucial for ensuring accountability and oversight, as they investigate waste, fraud, and misconduct within federal departments.

Trump's decision to fire or reassign these inspectors, often without providing clear reasons, raised alarms among critics who saw it as an effort to weaken government oversight. The removal of these officials was part of a broader trend during his administration of challenging or bypassing established systems of checks and balances.

One of the most prominent instances of this action occurred in April 2020, when Trump removed the IG overseeing the intelligence community, Michael Atkinson, after he had facilitated the whistleblower complaint that led to the impeachment inquiry into Trump. Other removals followed, including at agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State.

Many Democrats and watchdog groups viewed these actions as a troubling attempt to stifle transparency and accountability, particularly during a period of heightened scrutiny over the government's response to issues like the COVID-19 pandemic and the impeachment proceedings. Trump, on the other hand, argued that these IGs were ineffective or politically motivated, claiming that their removals were necessary for improving government operations.

The dismissals of independent inspectors general became one of the more controversial moves of Trump's presidency, as it seemed to undermine the role of these officials in holding the government accountable to the public.