President Donald Trump fired over a dozen inspectors general across multiple federal agencies late Friday.

A White House official confirmed to The Washington Times that Mr. Trump let 17 inspectors general go, a decision that some lawmakers are calling a purge of agency watchdogs and questioning its legality. 

Inspectors general are viewed as independent operators in government agencies with the task of conducting audits and rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. They’re appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and can be removed by only the president. 

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said during a floor speech on Saturday that the firings were “possibly in violation of federal law.”  

“This is a chilling purge, and it’s a preview of the lawless approach Donald Trump and his administration are taking far too often as he’s become president,” he said. 

The exact legal consequences of Mr. Trump’s decision remain in the air. 

Mike Ware, chairman of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, wrote a letter to White House Director of Presidential Personnel Sergio Gor regarding an email that Mr. Ware and other inspectors generals received that read, “Due to changing priorities, your position as inspector general … is terminated effective immediately.” 

He urged Mr. Gor to reach out to White House counsel to discuss the administration’s course of action. 

“At this point, we do not believe the actions taken are legally sufficient to dismiss presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed inspectors general,” Mr. Ware wrote. 

Indeed, Congress gave inspectors general protection from swift firings in 2022, when lawmakers amended the Inspector General Act to require a 30-day notification where the White House must notify Congress of its intent to fire an IG.

The law also requires the White House provide substantive reasons why an inspector general is being ousted.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, who has vowed to safeguard inspectors general and was critical of the Biden administration’s firing of watchdogs, said on X that “there may be good reason the IGs were fired. We need to know that if so.” 

“I’d like further explanation from President Trump,” Mr. Grassley, Iowa Republican, said. “Regardless, the 30-day detailed notice of removal that the law demands was not provided to Congress.”

• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.