Trump dismisses several inspectors general from various agencies
In a move that has sparked controversy and raised questions about transparency and accountability, President Donald Trump has fired multiple Inspectors General (IGs) for federal agencies. According to reports from The New York Times and Reuters, the number could be up to 17. The IG for the Small Business Administration and acting IG for the Social Security Administration, Hannibal 'Mike' Ware, is among those reportedly removed. At least a dozen watchdogs were reportedly removed, according to The Washington Post. The mass firing comes amidst ongoing scrutiny and criticism, with Sen. Chuck Grassley previously telling Politico that Trump should not pursue a mass firing of IGs. Sen. Grassley also stated that the 30-day notice, as required by federal law, was not given to Congress before the dismissals. The current nominee for the Inspector General (IG) of the Small Business Administration (SBA) is William Kirk, who was being considered in September 2025. The current IG for the Social Security Administration is not mentioned in the provided search results. Prior to Friday's mass firing, there were 15 IG vacancies. Notably, the IGs for the Intelligence Community and CIA recently left their positions before the start of Trump's second term. Gerald E. Connolly, D-Va., stated that Trump's actions are an attack on transparency and accountability. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., who is trying to work with the new administration on identifying poor-performing IGs, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a letter obtained by Politico, Ware, the chairperson of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, wrote to the White House stating that the removals of him and others are not legal due to the ignored notice period. Ware recommended that the White House reach out to White House Counsel to discuss the intended course of action. During Trump's first term, he fired five IGs over a span of six weeks in 2020. This latest move has once again brought the issue of IG independence and the role they play in ensuring accountability and transparency under the spotlight.
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