The White House failed to publicly announce the bloodbath or provide any explanation for why it fired the officials, who are tasked with evaluating federal departments on issues including the law and use of taxpayer money.

The move sparked concerns from Republican and Democrat lawmakers that the president may have broken a federal law requiring Congress to be given 30-day notice of such firings, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Inspector generals (IGs) for the departments of defense, state, transportation, veterans affairs, housing and urban development, interior, and energy were all let go. The exact number was not immediately clear but one official told Reuters the total was 17 out of a total 73 IGs.

Emails were sent late on Friday night notifying IGs that their employment was being terminated immediately. 

'At this point, we don't believe the actions taken are legally sufficient to dismiss Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed Inspectors General,' Hannibal Ware, IG for the Small Business Administration, said in a letter obtained by the Journal. 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

While the move by Trump is not entirely without precedent, it is rare for presidents to target the watchdog system that was created in 1978 under Jimmy Carter.

Ronald Reagan fired all existing IGs when he took office in 1981, but he later reinstated half of them following an intense backlash.

An inspector general is an independent position that conducts audits, investigations and inspectors into allegations of waste, fraud and abuse. 

They can be removed by the president or the agency head, depending on who nominated or appointed them.

While the politically-appointed leaders of agencies and departments come and go with each administration, an IG can stay and serve under multiple presidents. 

Senator Elizabeth Warren posted on X: 'It's a purge of independent watchdogs in the middle of the night.