Trump Administration Defunds Federal Inspectors General Council Amid Shutdown

President Trump is overseeing decisions on which federal agencies will bear the brunt of job cuts amid a government shutdown, with thousands of federal employees possibly being fired, particularly targeting agencies that do not align with his administration's values. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the administration aims to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars during this funding gap. Concurrently, the Trump administration has defunded the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), a key federal watchdog responsible for coordinating inspectors general across the government to fight waste, fraud, and abuse. The administration criticized inspectors general as corrupt and partisan, prompting significant concern from former officials and senators who warn that this defunding will weaken government oversight and investigative capabilities. Senators Susan Collins and Chuck Grassley have urged the White House to restore funding, highlighting that the shutdown of this office jeopardizes essential functions that prevent government waste. This move reflects a broader pattern of the Trump administration undermining independent federal oversight mechanisms.