Well, howdy there, Internet people, it's Bell again. So today, we're going to talk about Trump's removal of 17 independent watchdogs.

Okay, according to reporting, the Trump administration dismissed the inspectors general of agriculture, defense, education, the Environmental Protection Agency, Housing and Urban Development,

interior, labor, the Small Business Administration, State, and Transportation.

Suggestions are that there is at least one more not on our list. There was no real explanation

for the firings other than changing

priorities. The choices of those removed are baffling observers. Some of those removed were Trump

appointees, and others are ideologically aligned with Trump. We'll come back to why observers

are probably having a hard time making sense of the selections.

The removals look like they might violate federal law.

Before an inspector general can be removed, Congress is supposed to get 30 days' notice.

The IGs are responsible for oversight and accountability. They combat fraud, waste, and abuse.

A former acting inspector for state said, quote, if legal, and I think that's an open question under the law,

requiring 30-day congressional notification prior to the firing of an IG. It risks changing forever what we have

historically valued most about IGs, their independence, objectivity, and non-partisanship. Most Republicans

are generally supportive of IGs. They provide a lot of oversight and information to Congress.

Republicans in Congress encouraged Trump to avoid, well, this exact scenario in the past.

We'll see what they do now that once again, Trump is eroding their own power.

Democrats in Congress were quick to condemn the

move. Senator Warren said, quote, it's a purge of independent watchdogs in the middle of the night.

Inspectors General are charged with rooting out government waste, fraud, abuse, and preventing

misconduct. President Trump is dismantling checks on his power

and paving the way for widespread corruption. This is yet another move by Trump in the opening days of his

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