U.S. President, Donald Trump, on Friday, sacked the independent inspectors general of more than a dozen major government agencies late on Friday, U.S. media reported.
Media Talk Africa gathered that the agencies include the departments of defense, state, transportation, veterans affairs, housing and urban development, interior, and energy, Washington Post said, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.
According to the New York Times, the purge affected 17 agencies but spared the Department of Justice inspector general, Michael Horowitz.
The report said the sacks appeared to violate federal law, which requires Congress to receive 30 days’ notice of any intent to fire the inspectors general.
Meanwhile, the White House has not yet commented on the development.
Media Talk Africa reports that an inspector general is an independent position that conducts audits, investigations and inspectors into allegations of waste, fraud and abuse.
They can be removed by the president or the agency head, depending on who nominated or appointed them.
It was gathered that most of those dismissed were appointees from Trump’s 2017-2021 first term.
Those affected had been notified by emails from the White House personnel director that they had been terminated effective immediately.
