Did you hear about the news from the United States? President Donald Trump decided to fire some very important people called inspectors general. But who are they, and why is everyone talking about it?
Who Are the Inspectors General?
Inspectors general (pronounced in-spek-ters jen-er-ul) are special officials who watch over different parts of the government. Think of them like hall monitors at school. They make sure everyone is following the rules and doing the right thing. If someone isn’t doing their job properly, inspectors general can report it and help fix the problem.
What Happened?
Late one night, President Trump decided to fire 17 inspectors general all at once! This surprised many people because these watchdogs are supposed to be independent. That means they work for the government but aren’t influenced by other officials, so they can be fair and honest.
Why Are People Upset?
Some people, including politicians like U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, are upset by this decision. They say that the president may not have followed the law when firing the inspectors general. According to the rules, the president should tell Congress why these officials are being removed at least 30 days before doing it.
What Does the Law Say?
The law requires that when a president wants to remove an inspector general, they need to give a good reason to Congress ahead of time. But some are saying that President Trump didn’t do this properly, and just gave a short explanation about “changing priorities.”
Why Is This Important?
Inspectors general help keep the government honest and fair. If they are removed without good reasons, it might make it harder to ensure that everyone is following the rules. It’s like if your school suddenly got rid of all the teachers who make sure students follow the rulesโthings could get messy!
What’s Next?
People are asking the White House to explain why this happened. They want to make sure that the laws are being followed and that the government stays fair and honest. We’ll have to wait and see what happens next!
Reference(s):
Trump's firing of independent watchdog officials draws criticism
cgtn.com