In a sweeping move late Friday night, the Trump administration dismissed at least 17 inspectors general across multiple federal agencies, citing “changing priorities” under the new administration. The dismissals, which came via brief two-sentence emails, shocked the inspector general community and raised concerns about the independence of federal oversight.
Among those dismissed was Christi Grimm, who heads the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Her email termination, received by ABC News, read, “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that because of shifting priorities, your position as Inspector General…. is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.” The email missed the formalistic address usually addressed to IGs as it had only used Christi’s first name.
Firings were carried out without customary 30 days of communication with Congress, whereas federal law demands detailed reasoning behind IG terminations. Such abrupt terminations and generic wording in the emails are raising red flags among IGs and political observers about attempts to undermine the agencies’ independence.
On Saturday, Trump defended the terminations, which he said is a “common thing to do” and just like replacing U.S. attorneys. But critics say that this move could be part of the recommendations in the Project 2025 conservative blueprint for a potential second Trump term, which prescribed replacing IGs to get rid of what it perceives as “Deep State” influences.
Firings come amidst growing scrutiny over the plan by the Trump administration to win a second term. Last week, an op-ed appeared from Mick Mulvaney, a former Trump chief of staff, who said the administration must fire its inspector generals as the initial step in meeting its agenda.
Apprehension is growing in the inspector general community that the firings have a motive to install politically aligned personnel instead of upholding the agencies’ tradition of independent oversight. IGs discussed the implications of the firings on Saturday conference calls and encouraged the remaining acting inspectors general to uphold their independence despite political pressures.
As federal agencies make this transition, concerns regarding the erosion of oversight and accountability loom large, with many calling for greater transparency in the selection of new inspectors general.
