Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) condemned President Trump’s move to fire more than a dozen watchdogs at several federal agencies overnight, calling it a "chilling purge."
“This is a chilling purge, and it’s a preview of the lawless approach Donald Trump and his administration is taking far too often as he is becoming President,” Schumer said on the Senate floor Saturday.
"These dismissals are possibly in violation of federal law, which requires Congress to have a 30-day notice of any intent to fire inspectors general," he added.
The Trump administration fired around 17 inspectors general at various agencies within the departments of State, Defense, Transportation and Energy, among others, late Friday night, as first reported by The Washington Post. The inspectors serve in the watchdog role to investigate allegations regarding abuse of power, fraud and waste within the government.
“These firings are Donald Trump’s way of telling us he is terrified of accountability and is hostile to facts and to transparency,” Schumer said.
Some Republicans, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) also expressed confusion at Trump’s decision to dismiss the federal workers.
“I don’t understand why one would fire individuals whose mission it is to root out waste, fraud and abuse. This leaves a gap in what I know is a priority for President Trump," Collins said while arriving at the Capitol for a Saturday morning vote. "So, I don’t understand it."
Schumer's response echoed those of Democratic Reps. Angie Craig (Minn.) and Gerry Connolly (Va.), who also blasted the president for such a move.
. Angie Craig (Minn.) and Gerry Connolly (Va.) also blasted the president on Saturday.
“This midnight purge of inspector generals, including at the USDA, is alarming and unprecedented,” Craig, who serves as the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, said in a statement.
“While the president has the right to replace inspector generals, the late-night firing of these independent watchdogs not only violates the law but also hampers our ability to combat waste, fraud, and abuse and ensure programs are run as Congress intended, whether its disaster assistance for farmers or nutrition programs,” she added.
Schumer also elaborated on his questioning of the legality of Trump's actions.
"We’re a fact-based society. We lose that, we lose the core of America," he said. "And Donald Trump’s decision to fire 12 of the federal government’s independent watchdogs is a glaring sign that it’s a Golden Age for abuse in government and even corruption."
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