Trump Administration Removes Over a Dozen Inspectors General, Sparking Oversight Crisis

The Trump administration has conducted a sweeping removal of at least 14 Inspectors General (IGs) across major federal agencies, a move that dismantles critical oversight bodies responsible for investigating fraud, waste, and corruption. The firings, which occurred in late January 2025, have drawn sharp criticism from accountability advocates and lawmakers who warn of a severe blow to government transparency.

The dismissals targeted watchdogs at some of the largest government departments, including Defense, State, Transportation, Labor, and Health and Human Services. According to a report from Public Citizen, the move appears to implement directives outlined in Project 2025, a plan designed to reshape the federal bureaucracy. Before the removals, growing concerns among accountability advocates had already been voiced, with some IGs resigning in anticipation of a potential purge aimed at weakening independent oversight.

One of the most immediate consequences has been felt at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Whistleblowers revealed that the shutdown of a key oversight office at the agency has effectively halted hundreds of civil rights and civil liberties investigations. According to the Government Accountability Project, which represents the whistleblowers, more than 500 inquiries into alleged abuses within agencies like ICE and Customs and Border Protection have been stalled, leaving many complaints in limbo.

Inspectors General are independent officials tasked with auditing federal agencies to ensure taxpayer money is spent properly and to expose misconduct. Their removal represents a significant shift in government operations, removing a check on executive power. The administration has nominally justified the terminations as part of an effort to curb institutional excess. However, critics argue that this large-scale removal of government watchdogs leaves federal agencies without essential internal scrutiny, potentially costing taxpayers millions and undermining public trust in government functions.