Trump Fires Independent Government Watchdogs, Threatening Oversight

Hampton Dellinger, former head of the Office of Special Counsel, has warned that President Trump's mass firings of independent watchdogs represents a significant threat to government oversight. Dellinger stated that the removal of himself, the director of the Office of Government Ethics, and 17 inspectors general marks a historic shift, as no president has dismissed watchdog leaders en masse in 44 years. He emphasized that the independence of these agencies, originally established post-Watergate to protect federal workers and ensure accountability, is now compromised. Dellinger indicated that without independent oversight, federal employees may lack safe avenues to report misconduct. Trump defended the firings as standard practice, but critics argue this undermines the integrity and functionality of oversight mechanisms designed to serve the public interest. Dellinger concluded that the integrity of watchdog agencies has been severely diminished, raising concerns about the future of accountability in government.