House Democrats are blasting President Donald Trump as independent watchdogs have struggled to provide oversight of his administration.
In letters sent to 24 agencies Friday, members of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee warned Cabinet-level officials about how budget cuts, hiring freezes and the administration’s “deferred resignation” program are hollowing out the offices of inspectors general that root out corruption at their agencies.
“Committee Democrats have learned that, as a result of the Trump Administration’s reckless efforts to drive federal workers from their jobs without assessing the potential harm to the American people, the federal government’s OIGs have lost hundreds of key personnel, including critical auditors, investigators, and senior leaders who were instrumental in fighting waste, fraud, abuse and corruption,” said a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
One inspector general office reported it has lost 20 percent of its staff to Trump’s resignation offer as well as retirement and separation incentives, according to the Democrats. Another office expects to have 31 percent less people on the payroll than in 2024.
