According to multiple outlets, most of the people fired were inspectors Trump had appointed during his first term. They were all notified by email from the White House personnel director that their firing was effective immediately.

“It’s a widespread massacre,” one of the fired inspectors general told the Washington Post. “Whoever Trump puts in now will be viewed as loyalists, and that undermines the entire system.”

The 17 fired represent a significant chunk of the roughly 70 inspectors general operating across the government. Each cabinet department has their own inspector general, and in general their responsibility is to audit agencies in order to detect fraud, waste, and abuse.

RealClearPolitics correspondent Susan Crabtree defended the move, arguing that those fired were largely politically biased.

“I’ve covered these IGs for years — and trust me when I say, even though they are charged with ferreting out waste and abuse, many have long histories of WHITEWASHING reports and playing politics with complaints,” she said in a post on X.

The move had reportedly been expected by those familiar with the transition, but came as a shock to personnel.

“This is totally unprecedented. It’s what we were fearing. There was noise during the transition about him doing this and some statements made during his campaign” by Trump’s aides, a senior executive at one inspector general office told the outlet.

The move isn’t unprecedented, as he fired five inspectors general during his last administration as well. When Trump fired the inspectors for the departments of State, HHS, Defense, Intelligence, and Transportation in 2020 opponents accused him of acting in retaliation, but Trump said those fired were partisan in their reports.

Among those fired this time included inspectors overseeing the departments of Defense, State, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, and Commerce and Agriculture. The watchdogs for the Environmental Protection Agency, Small Business Administration, and Social Security Administration were also sacked. Inspectors at the DOJ, FCC, DHS, Office of Personnel Management, and the Export-Import Bank were not fired, according to Politico.

Democrats were quick to decry the move, painting it as a cover-up for corruption.

“It’s a purge of independent watchdogs in the middle of the night. Inspectors general are charged with rooting out government waste, fraud, abuse and preventing misconduct,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said in a statement. “President Trump is dismantling checks on his power and paving the way for widespread corruption.”

The firings may run into issues with federal law, which requires a 30-day advanced notice of any intent to dismiss a Senate-approved inspector general.

The Washington Examiner has reached out to the Trump administration for comment.