In a move that can only be described as “spring cleaning,” President Trump took to the federal government’s version of a garage sale, tossing out 12 inspectors general like last season’s fireworks. A senior White House official confirmed to NBC News that nothing says “fresh start” like purging the keepers of the government’s secrets.
Irony alert: the inspectors general for the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security were safe from the chopping block. Clearly, they’re doing such a good job that they’ve been given a free pass—much like those in Congress when they’re up to their necks in scandal.
When queried about why this sacking spree was happening, the official spun a delightful yarn about letting go of “parts of the past Biden administration” that didn’t fit the Trump household’s new decor. “We’re cleaning house of what doesn’t work for us and going forward,” they said, presumably while tossing the old rugs with the help of some overly enthusiastic interns.
But hold up! The legal justifications for this “let’s lighten the load” initiative are a bit murky. Congress had the audacity to bolster protections for inspectors general back in 2022, leaving little to no room for random firings without a 30-day notice. Talk about a speed bump in the White House’s new fast track to chaos!
When confronted about their lack of respect for legal protocols, the official assured everyone that “legal counsel” was watching over their shoulders like bouncers at a VIP club. They even claimed they were checking in with the White House counsel’s office, which probably doubled as the “yikes, are we in trouble?” department.
The drama unfolded first in The New York Times and The Washington Post, where one can imagine journalists shaking their heads in disbelief, much like parents watching their kids attempt to juggle chainsaws.
Traditionally, inspectors general enjoy the luxury of being independent and auditing things like waste and fraud, which seems almost like a fantasy in the current political landscape where reality TV rules. But Mike Ware, head of the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, took it up a notch by sending a letter asking any inspectors who were shown the door to notify him, maybe promising a gold star or a cookie for their cooperation. It’s all about accountability!
Ware also managed to pen a stern letter to the White House, calling into question the legality of the firings, finally bringing to light that simple principles like checks and balances might need to undergo a rigorous review process to see if they still fit.
One of the lucky few on the firing list was Ware himself, as the Department of Education confirmed. It’s like the ultimate betrayal in a game of musical chairs.
Sen. Chuck Grassley from Iowa, the self-proclaimed guardian of the Senate Judiciary Committee, weighed in with remarks about the irregularities of the firings, calling it a “chilling purge.” Because who doesn’t love a good ghost story to brighten their Friday night?
Democrats, of course, joined the fray with an enthusiastic uproar, comparing Trump’s actions to an impending apocalypse that none of them saw coming. Schumer, taking center stage, referred to it as a “preview of the lawless approach” and a “dark of night” escapade that could rival any thriller movie.
Danielle Brian from the Project on Government Oversight chimed in with words of wisdom, declaring that the main tool for rooting out fraud and waste had just been used for target practice.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren echoed the sentiments, likening it all to a grand dismantling of checks on power, because apparently that’s what “living on the edge” means in Washington.
Rep. Gerry Connolly described the whole event as a “Friday night coup” and “an attack on transparency and accountability,” which is like calling a horror movie a feel-good story gone wrong.
Truly, it’s a bizarre time where government houses need cleaning but come with legal loopholes bigger than the ones in a political debate. So, pop that popcorn and get ready for the next episode in political theater!
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
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