Cabinet Watchdogs Produced 25% Fewer Investigations This Year as Inspector General Offices Shrank by 19%, Report Finds

The Partnership for Public Service published a report on July 29, 2026 finding that inspector general offices at Cabinet departments produced an average of 6% fewer audits and 25% fewer investigative reports in the first half of fiscal 2026 than their fiscal 2020-2024 averages. As of May 31, the average Cabinet inspector general workforce was 19% smaller than in December 2024, and the three offices with the steepest staffing losses also showed the largest drops in investigative reports. "Inspectors general are the mechanism by which the executive branch examines itself, and the volume of that examination has declined sharply in a single year," the researchers wrote.

The finding quantifies an effect that had until now been described mostly in terms of firings. Trump has removed nearly 20 inspectors general since the start of his second term, with the White House arguing the officials had become "corrupt, partisan and in some cases, have lied to the public." Most inspectors general confirmed since January 2025 previously served in his administrations.

The Partnership has also reported that the administration proposed cutting inspector general funding in its fiscal 2027 budget request and installed political appointees at some offices. The report is an outside analysis, not a government audit.