Vox’s The Logoff: Trump’s firing of inspectors general, explained

Joey Sendaydiego for Vox

Patrick Reis was the senior politics and ideas editor at Vox. He previously worked at Rolling Stone, the Washington Post, Politico, National Journal, and Seattle’s Real Change News. As a reporter and editor, he has worked on coverage of campaign politics, economic policy, the federal death penalty, climate change, financial regulation, and homelessness.

The Logoff is a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here.

Welcome to The Logoff. Today, I want to focus on Donald Trump’s decision to fire more than a dozen internal government watchdogs, a move that has real implications for government accountability — and checks on Trump’s power.

What just happened? On Friday, Trump fired a dozen or more inspectors general, internal watchdogs tasked with investigating federal inefficiency, incompetence, and corruption. Trump did not give a reason for the dismissals, nor did the administration provide a list of who was fired. (That’s why the exact count of fired officials has varied by news outlet.)

Why does this matter? Inspectors general are a thorn in the side of administrations, as they often uncover practices that are embarrassing (or worse) to the president and his appointees. But they are a necessary check on the abuse of power, as their broad oversight authority — and, critically, their independence — helps them reveal errors and malfeasance. In a massive government moving around trillions of dollars, that’s critical, as there’s plenty of potential for waste and plenty of incentives for corruption.

Can Trump do this? It’s complicated. Congress passed a law in 2022 requiring the president to give a rationale (and 30 days’ notice) to Congress before firing an IG. Trump’s Friday night firings — which included neither notice to Congress nor a specific rationale — pretty clearly violate that law. However, some legal experts don’t believe the 2022 law is constitutional, and so it will likely fall to the courts.

Is this normal? No. It’s not unheard of for a president to fire an IG. Joe Biden fired the IG of a federal railroad board after an investigation found the IG had created a hostile work environment (though some congressional Republicans found fault with Biden’s stated rationale). Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan fired IGs as well. But by ignoring the law to fire more than a dozen IGs on his first week, Trump is engaging in a naked power grab.

And with that, it’s time to log off ...

“You are where your attention is.” So begins the latest episode of Vox’s The Gray Area podcast with guest Chris Hayes. What follows is an excellent conversation about the many pulls on our attention in modern life, the importance of focus, and how to find balance. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and you can listen here.

You’ve read 1 article in the last month

Here at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you — threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.

Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.

We rely on readers like you — join us.