When President Donald Trump fired at least 17 inspectors general at federal agencies, critics blasted the administration for removing independent and nonpartisan watchdogs charged with preventing fraud and abuse at federal agencies.

Firing the inspectors general—leaving those oversight offices leaderless and in turmoil—could thus remove a barrier to the Trump administration advancing its policy objectives, said government observers. The absence of inspectors general could influence rulemaking and policy at a number of federal agencies hit by Trump's purge, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, the State Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs, observers added.