The Trump Purge: Death to Accountability
How Trump’s War on Watchdogs Paves the Way for Authoritarian Rule
Donald Trump’s first week back in the White House was a declaration of war—not on crime, corruption, or government waste, but on accountability itself. Within days of his second inauguration, Trump fired 17 18 independent Inspectors General across the federal government, the very people charged with exposing fraud, corruption, and abuse. It wasn’t just reckless; it was illegal.
The law is clear: the Inspector General Act of 1978 requires the president to give Congress 30 days’ written notice before firing an IG, along with a legitimate explanation. But Trump couldn’t even be bothered to follow this basic safeguard. Why? Because Inspectors General stood in the way of his vision—a government run not for the people, but for himself.
This wasn’t about “efficiency” or “draining the swamp.” It was about silencing anyone who might hold him accountable, clearing the path for a presidency defined by unchecked power, corruption, and authoritarianism. And here’s the kicker: he’s just getting started.
Inspectors General: The Last Defense Against Corruption
Inspectors General are more than just auditors—they’re the public’s watchdogs, tasked with safeguarding federal agencies against fraud, waste, and abuse. They work independently, free from political pressure, and answer directly to Congress. This independence isn’t a courtesy; it’s protected by law.
The Inspector General Act of 1978, codified in 5 U.S.C. §403(b), explicitly states:
"An Inspector General may be removed from office by the President. If an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer."
This requirement is not a suggestion or a bureaucratic norm—it’s a legal obligation, designed to prevent abuse of power and ensure accountability. By firing 17 Inspectors General without providing written notice or reasons to Congress, Trump blatantly violated this statute, dismantling a critical safeguard meant to protect democracy.
The Purge of 2025: A Masterclass in Corruption
Let’s not mince words: this was a purge. Trump didn’t fire one or two Inspectors General—he fired 17. That’s 17 watchdogs removed without explanation, leaving agencies like the Departments of Defense, State, and Agriculture without oversight.
Here’s what that means for you:
The Department of Defense IG was investigating billions in military contracts. Now? Those investigations are dead.
The State Department IG was overseeing foreign aid spending—money that can make or break lives abroad. Gone.
The Agriculture Department IG was probing fraud in food assistance programs. That fraud? Free to flourish.
This wasn’t about cleaning house. It was about burning it to the ground. Trump removed these watchdogs not because they were doing a bad job, but because they were doing their job. And their job was to stand in his way.
Trump’s Relationship with Rules: They’re for Other People
If you think this is shocking, you haven’t been paying attention. Donald Trump has spent his entire life treating rules like suggestions. From cheating contractors out of paychecks to falsifying business records to dodging accountability in multiple impeachments, his mantra has always been the same: rules are for suckers.
When he fired Michael Atkinson, the IG who forwarded the whistleblower complaint that led to Trump’s first impeachment, Trump called him a “disgrace.” When Christi Grimm exposed his administration’s COVID-19 failures, he labeled her report “fake” and ousted her.
This isn’t new behavior—it’s an escalation. Trump’s second term is shaping up to be a full-scale war on accountability. His 2025 purge is the clearest message yet: he plans to rule without rules.
The Bigger Picture: Project 2025 and the Authoritarian Blueprint
If you think this is just Trump being Trump, think again. His purge of Inspectors General isn’t an isolated act of retribution—it’s part of a broader, calculated agenda to dismantle democratic institutions and consolidate unchecked power. It aligns perfectly with Project 2025, a conservative manifesto aimed at reshaping the federal government into an extension of executive authority.
The playbook is chillingly simple: fire anyone who values law over loyalty. Replace independent watchdogs with loyalists. Eliminate oversight, and you eliminate consequences. But the purge of Inspectors General is just one piece of the puzzle.
Consider these other moves Trump has made in lockstep with Project 2025’s goals:
Reinstating Schedule F: On his first day back in office, Trump reinstated the controversial Schedule F executive order, reclassifying thousands of federal employees into positions that are easier to fire. This removes civil service protections for policy-influencing roles, clearing the way for the administration to replace career public servants with political loyalists. By undermining the merit-based civil service system, Trump has politicized roles traditionally insulated from partisan influence, a cornerstone of the Project 2025 vision.
Ending Birthright Citizenship: One of Trump’s most radical moves has been his push to end the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship. By targeting this cornerstone of American identity, Trump is weaponizing immigration policy to sow division and fear, while sending a clear message: foundational democratic principles can be rewritten at his whim.
Withdrawing from International Agreements: Trump has doubled down on his disdain for global cooperation by withdrawing from key international agreements addressing climate change, trade, and global security. Project 2025 prioritizes nationalism over multilateralism, and Trump’s actions reflect this isolationist agenda, leaving the U.S. weaker on the global stage while consolidating his control at home.
Eliminating DEI Programs: Trump’s administration has aggressively dismantled Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies, framing them as "woke excesses." This move doesn’t just erase progress toward equal opportunity; it aligns with Project 2025’s aim to centralize authority by suppressing initiatives that empower marginalized groups and challenge systemic inequality.
These examples reveal the true scope of Trump’s vision: a government run not by laws, checks, or balances but by loyalty and authoritarian control. Project 2025 provides the blueprint; Trump is simply the executor.
He claims ignorance about the project on the campaign trail, but his actions tell a very different story. By firing 17 Inspectors General, reinstating Schedule F, ending birthright citizenship, withdrawing from international agreements, and dismantling DEI programs, Trump is executing Project 2025 to perfection. Each move chips away at the principles that uphold democracy, leaving behind a system designed to serve one man—and one man alone.
Why This Matters: Democracy on Life Support
At first glance, the actions outlined above might seem like isolated political maneuvers, each targeting a specific policy or institution. But taken together, they reveal something much more sinister: a coordinated effort to dismantle the checks and balances that define a functioning democracy.
When Trump fired 17 Inspectors General, he wasn’t just eliminating oversight—he was sending a message: institutions that exist to ensure accountability and fairness are obstacles to his vision of governance. The same can be said for his broader efforts to centralize power under the executive branch. What we’re witnessing is not the streamlining of government, but the intentional clearing of a path toward authoritarianism.
These actions are designed to do one thing: weaken resistance. Inspectors General who investigate corruption, civil servants who are hired based on merit rather than loyalty, international partnerships that require accountability, and programs that empower marginalized voices—all of these represent the kinds of checks that keep power in balance. And all of them are being systematically dismantled, one by one.
Authoritarian regimes don’t take shape overnight. They are built incrementally, by undermining the institutions that protect democracy, removing those who speak truth to power, and replacing accountability with loyalty. What Trump has done is lay the groundwork for such a regime. By removing the mechanisms of oversight and replacing expertise with fealty, he is creating a system where power is centralized, dissent is silenced, and laws exist only to serve the leader.
This isn’t just an attack on democratic institutions—it’s an attack on the very concept of democracy itself. Fascism thrives when there are no mechanisms to resist it. Trump’s actions ensure that resistance, whether through institutional checks or civil dissent, is increasingly difficult to mount.
If these trends continue, the consequences are dire. A government without accountability becomes a government without legitimacy. A nation ruled by loyalty rather than law becomes a nation where justice is determined by those in power, not by the people. This is the road to authoritarianism.
But democracy doesn’t die in a single act. It erodes piece by piece, as institutions crumble and safeguards are abandoned. If we fail to recognize this moment for what it is—a coordinated assault on the foundations of democratic governance—there may be nothing left to rebuild.
The Fight for Accountability Starts With You
Let’s not sugarcoat this: we are in a crisis. Trump’s mass firing of Inspectors General isn’t just a scandal—it’s a blueprint for authoritarian rule.
Let’s not pretend that Congress will step in to save us. With a Republican majority fully beholden to Trump, there will be no investigations, no accountability, and no checks from within the system. They’ve already surrendered their responsibility to the people in favor of loyalty to one man.
That means the fight for democracy falls to us—you, me, and every single person who refuses to stand idly by while our country is transformed into an authoritarian state. You’ve already taken the first step by being here, reading this article. By seeking the truth and refusing to look away, you’re already part of the movement to hold the line.
We are the American Manifesto—more than a publication, we’re a rallying cry. A movement for accountability, fairness, and freedom. You’re not alone in this fight. Together, we must make our voices so loud that our representatives—whether Republican or Democrat—cannot ignore the deafening power of the people they swore to serve.
So, let’s take action. Share this message far and wide. Talk to your neighbors, your friends, your family. And if you can, consider becoming a paid subscriber to help ensure this message reaches as many people as possible, free from paywalls and corporate influence.
Our voices are our strongest weapons against tyranny. Together, we can take our country back. Will you join me?
Sources
Zeke Miller, Eric Tucker, and Will Weissert, "Trump uses mass firing to remove independent inspectors general at a series of agencies," AP News, Updated January 25, 2025, 5:31 PM EST.
Scott Patterson and Dustin Volz, "Trump Fires Numerous Inspectors General in Friday Night Purge," Wall Street Journal, Updated January 25, 2025, 1:23 PM ET.
Chas Danner, "Trump Administration Purge: Live Updates," NY Mag Intelligencer, Updated January 25, 2025, 4:47 PM.
Martin Pengelly and George Chidi, "Trump reclassifies thousands of federal employees, making them easier to fire," The Guardian, January 20, 2025, 8:49 PM EST.
Alexandra Marquez, “Sen. Adam Schiff says Trump 'broke the law' by firing 18 inspectors general”, NBC News, January 26, 2025, 10:51 AM EST
U.S. Code, "5 U.S.C. §403(b): Removal or Transfer of Inspectors General,".