This is reported by CNN, as conveyed by Ukrinform.
Emails notifying relevant officials that a shift in administration priorities necessitates an immediate cessation of their duties were sent on Friday evening, signed by the head of the White House Office of Personnel Management, Sergio Gora.
The dismissals affected a significant portion of federal government agencies, including the State Department, and the Departments of Energy, Interior, Defense, and Transportation.
Inspectors General in the federal government of the U.S. are appointed independently of party affiliation, do not report to agency heads, and their main responsibility is to oversee compliance with laws within their agencies. They are tasked with conducting investigations and audits of any potential misconduct, fraud, waste, or abuse by government entities or their staff, as well as providing reports and recommendations to rectify or prevent violations.
During his first presidency, Trump also dismissed independent government watchdogs early in his term whom he deemed disloyal, prompting Congress to pass a law in 2022 requiring the White House to provide lawmakers with justification for the dismissal of any Inspector General 30 days prior to their removal.
However, the Senate did not receive any documents regarding the dismissals of any officials, and the extensive nature of these dismissals raised concerns not only among Democratic senators but also among members of the Republican Party.
In response to a question about whether the White House had provided explanations for the dismissals, Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated that no such explanations had been received and promised to comment on Trump's personnel decisions later.
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski remarked, “What I understand is that the lack of notification is unprecedented. I can understand that a new president might critically assess the Inspectors General in the government and the role they play in various departments, but... I believe that the sudden dismissal of all should raise alarms.”
Trump himself stated on Saturday evening that he handled the dismissals in this manner because it is “very common,” noting that not all Inspectors General were dismissed.
“I don’t know them, but some people felt that some of them were unfair or not doing their jobs. This (the president dismissing government officials – ed.) is a very standard thing,” Trump asserted.
As reported by Ukrinform, President Donald Trump, five days after signing an order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization, stated that he might consider the possibility of the country rejoining the WHO.
Photo: EPA/UPG