Trump Fires More Inspectors General Than All Other Presidents Combined
NEWS & RESEARCH
On January 24, 2025—dubbed the “Friday Night Massacre”—President Trump fired 17 agency inspectors general (IGs) without the legally required notice to Congress. He later ousted the USAID IG shortly after the release of a report critical of his administration. Together, these 20 watchdogs had uncovered over $50 billion in waste and fraud in FY 2024 alone. While many were replaced with former Trump appointees, a federal judge declined to reinstate the fired IGs, ruling they failed to prove irreparable harm.
SOURCES: Washington Post | Federal News Network | Government Executive
ANALYSIS & OPINION
Watchdog organizations and ethics experts condemned the move as a threat to agency independence. New York State IG Lucy Lang called the firings a "retaliatory abuse of power," while former ethics counsel Norm Eisen labeled them "blatantly illegal." Veteran IG Glenn Fine warned the purge "potentially undermines" the effectiveness and independence of the entire oversight system.
SOURCES: New York Times | Politico | POGO | Congress
HOW TO FIX IT
Restrict Removal: Limit the President’s authority to fire IGs only in cases of incapacity, neglect, or malfeasance.
Ensure Neutrality: Bar political appointees from serving as IGs to maintain non-partisan oversight.
Legislative Leverage: Senate should block presidential nominees until the administration complies with IG independence laws.
Legislation: S.3687 - Inspectors General Independence Act
