Trump administration defunds crucial federal watchdog council

On October 1, 2025, the Trump administration ceased funding for the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), a critical oversight body in the United States. The defunding comes amidst allegations from the administration that inspectors general have become corrupt, partisan, and untrustworthy, moving away from their role as impartial watchdogs. This decision has serious implications for the functionality of the inspectors general, who play a vital role in rooting out waste, fraud, and misconduct within the government. Despite the controversies surrounding this decision, the administration remains firm in its stance, causing concern among several lawmakers. With the elimination of funding, the operational capabilities of CIGIE are greatly diminished. The council provided essential training, data analysis, and resources to approximately 14,000 federal investigative employees. Without these resources, officials like Mark Greenblatt, a former inspector general, expressed fears that individual inspectors general would be isolated and unable to effectively protect taxpayer interests. The council's support for a hotline for reporting misconduct, its provision of websites for various inspectors general offices, and cooperation across government agencies will all face significant setbacks. Bipartisan criticism has arisen in response to the withdrawal of funding, highlighted by letters from Republican Senators Chuck Grassley and Susan Collins who described the decision as detrimental to government oversight. They argued that without immediate action to reverse this course, crucial functions preventing the detection of government waste, fraud, and abuse would be compromised. The senators urged for an explanation regarding these actions and requested the restoration of CIGIE's funding, framing the matter as urgent and critical to government integrity. The administration's defunding decision coincides with concerns that it reflects a broader desire to undermine the government's checks and balances. Legal experts noted that the Office of Management and Budget has discretion over CIGIE's budget, thus making this decision legally permissible. However, critics assert it demonstrates an alarming trend where the administration is not committed to transparency or accountability, more interested in sidelining entities capable of reporting corruption. In the long run, this move could have long-lasting effects on federal oversight capabilities and public trust in government agencies.