US President Donald Trump's administration has taken a drastic step by systematically firing or defunding key officials responsible for rooting out corruption in federal agencies. At least 18 inspectors general were let go within the first nine months of his second term, leaving many wondering about the motivations behind this campaign.
According to sources, some of these dismissed inspectors general had earned strong reputations for uncovering fraud, waste, and abuse during their years of service. One notable example is Parisa Salehi, who oversaw internal investigations at the Export-Import Bank of the United States and saved tens of millions of dollars through her efforts.
The White House's actions have been widely criticized as an attempt to silence those who dare to question the administration's questionable practices. The Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee has acknowledged that Trump's team is flouting a requirement to notify Congress about the dismissal of these officials, highlighting the severity of the situation.
This systemic campaign against inspectors general raises serious concerns about accountability and transparency within the federal government. Inspectors general are tasked with ensuring that agencies comply with applicable laws and institutional rules, making their removal potentially catastrophic for public trust.
Experts argue that Trump's team sees inspectors general as a threat to their own interests, which is why they have fired so many of these officials without cause. The recent defunding of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency has further compounded the problem, leaving only some inspectors general able to continue their work.
As a result, the system of accountability is now effectively broken, paving the way for more corruption, mismanagement, and unethical behavior within federal agencies. This development has sparked fears that the administration's disregard for institutional rules will have far-reaching consequences for the country as a whole.
According to sources, some of these dismissed inspectors general had earned strong reputations for uncovering fraud, waste, and abuse during their years of service. One notable example is Parisa Salehi, who oversaw internal investigations at the Export-Import Bank of the United States and saved tens of millions of dollars through her efforts.
The White House's actions have been widely criticized as an attempt to silence those who dare to question the administration's questionable practices. The Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee has acknowledged that Trump's team is flouting a requirement to notify Congress about the dismissal of these officials, highlighting the severity of the situation.
This systemic campaign against inspectors general raises serious concerns about accountability and transparency within the federal government. Inspectors general are tasked with ensuring that agencies comply with applicable laws and institutional rules, making their removal potentially catastrophic for public trust.
Experts argue that Trump's team sees inspectors general as a threat to their own interests, which is why they have fired so many of these officials without cause. The recent defunding of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency has further compounded the problem, leaving only some inspectors general able to continue their work.
As a result, the system of accountability is now effectively broken, paving the way for more corruption, mismanagement, and unethical behavior within federal agencies. This development has sparked fears that the administration's disregard for institutional rules will have far-reaching consequences for the country as a whole.