WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has fired about 17 independent inspectors general at government agencies, a sweeping action to remove oversight of his new administration that some members of Congress are suggesting violated federal oversight laws.

Lawmakers in both parties expressed concern that the White House might have circumvented federal rules in dismissing government watchdogs.

Hannibal “Mike” Ware, the former inspector general (IG) for the Small Business Administration, said he and others are looking into whether actions taken by President Trump amount to a threat to democracy.

At least six of the inspectors general recently dismissed by President Donald Trump had a history of donating to Democratic political committees, a Washington Examiner analysis has found. In a move the New York Times described as a “late-night purge,

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said he’s confident President Trump will hire “serious” inspectors general to replace the roughly 17 agency watchdogs he ousted from their posts Friday night. In an

Reuters learned exclusively Phyllis Fong, the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), was escorted from her office on Monday after being fired by President Donald Trump. Fong was one of the 17 general inspectors from federal agencies that Trump fired,