It is axiomatic that corrupt governments eliminate those responsible for policing corruption. The Friday night massacre of over a dozen inspectors general across the executive branch lays the groundwork for taking over that government from within. They are embedded within these agencies to accomplish this task.
This is a modern adaptation to achieving the checks and balances the Framers of our Constitution intended when they created the federal government. Absent independent institutional whistleblowers, a significant check on power is now missing. Twice stymied in his first term from asserting unfettered control over the federal government first, by his own political appointees and career civil servants who refused to bend to his will, second, switching from internal to external forces, by using a mob to foment the January 6, , insurrection β which failed , President Donald Trump clearly has resolved not to be so stymied in his second term.
This time, his accomplices include, with the exception of Marco Rubio, an array of loyalists unqualified to hold their cabinet positions from outside government who are committed 1 to him, and 2 to disrupting and then dismantling any dissent within their realms of power. Those within these agencies who might protest these moves, DEI officers, or block them, inspectors general, are eliminated.
All of which was telegraphed to Americans well beforehand during the general election. Not surprisingly, in carrying out the first purge of his second term, Trump broke the law. Amended in , in the wake of his first term where he similarly flouted it to fire an inspector general pushing back on his downplay of COVID, this law codified at 5 USC Ch. 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 statutorily required communication was to not only be sent a month prior to termination, but also contain the reasons therefore. Thus, the very provision inserted into the law to constrain Trump, was ignored by him.
