The Trump administration has fired about 17 independent inspectors-general at government agencies, an action to remove oversight of his new administration that some members of Congress are suggesting violated federal oversight laws.
The dismissals began on Friday night and were effective immediately, according to two people familiar with the actions.
Neither confirmed the exact number of firings, but an email sent by one of the fired inspectors-general said “roughly 17” inspectors-general had been removed.
Congress was not given 30-day notices about the removals –something that even a top Republican is decrying.
“There may be good reason the IGs [inspectors-general] were fired. We need to know that if so,” Senator Chuck Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.
“I’d like further explanation from President Trump. Regardless, the 30 day detailed notice of removal that the law demands was not provided to Congress.”
The role of the modern-day inspector-general dates to post-Watergate Washington, when Congress installed offices inside agencies as an independent check against mismanagement and abuse of power.
Though inspectors-general are presidential appointees, some serve presidents of both parties.
All are expected to be nonpartisan.
Mr Trump has aggressively challenged the authority of independent agency watchdog groups in the past. (Reuters: Carlos Barria)
Senator Lindsey Graham acknowledged that the firings violated statutes but shrugged it off: “Just tell them you need to follow the law next time.”
Democrats and watchdog groups, however, used the dismissals to raise alarm that Mr Trump was making it easier to take advantage of the government.
“Inspectors-general are the cops on the beat preventing bad things from happening,” Max Stier, president and CEO of the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, said in a statement.
“Their work saves the taxpayer tens of billions of dollars every year.”
Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer called the move a “chilling purge” and “possibly in violation of federal law” .
The White House did not comment on Saturday.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the move a “chilling purge”. (AP: Susan Walsh)
But the moves were consistent with the president’s first week back in the White House, which has featured a series of steps to remake the federal government, including executive orders and a crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Mr Trump has also aggressively challenged the authority of independent agency watchdog groups in the past.
In 2020, he replaced multiple key inspectors-general, including those leading the defense department and intelligence community, as well as the inspector-general tapped to chair a special oversight board for the trillion dollar relief package during pandemic.
Las Vegas rally to offer details into plan to eliminate taxes on tips
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is using a stop Saturday local time in Las Vegas to offer details on how he can begin excluding tips from federal taxes, betting that a city built on gambling and the hospitality industry will relish taking home larger slices of gratuities.
Mr Trump is vowing to make good on a campaign promise and will give a speech at the Circa Resort & Casino, according to the Culinary Union, which represents about 60,000 hospitality workers across Nevada.
The union supports eliminating taxes on tips, but says Mr Trump’s proposals don’t go far enough.
He spent Friday seeing storm damage firsthand and hearing harrowing stories from survivors of last fall’s Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.
Swannanoa resident Lucy Bickers, who received assistance from FEMA after Hurricane Helene, holds a sign in support after Mr Trump flagged removing the agency.
In Los Angeles, he viewed the devastation from wildfires that could be among the costliest natural disasters in the nation’s history.
In Nevada, by contrast, Mr Trump said he wants to celebrate being the first Republican presidential candidate to carry the state since George W Bush: “I’m going to Nevada to thank them.”
It’s a familiar backdrop to talk tips and taxation. As a candidate, Mr Trump first announced the idea during a rally last June in Las Vegas — a proposal later copied by his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Saturday’s event “will be an economy-focused message, and President Trump will be talking about promises that he intends to keep that he made to the American people on the campaign trail”.
Nevada voters celebrate Mr Trump’s victory. (AP: Jae C Hong)
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are 2.24 million restaurant servers across the country, with tips making up a large percentage of their income.
In Las Vegas, the 24-hour economy is fuelled by everyone from wait staff and valet parkers to hotel maids and casino dealers, all of whom collect tips.
Not paying federal taxes will likely be difficult to put in place in the short term, however, and require an act of Congress.
AP
