The internal government watchdogs were believed to have been dismissed at several major agencies, though the Justice Department’s was not said to have been among them.

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration fired the independent inspectors general of at least 12 major federal agencies late on Friday, the Washington Post reported. The agencies include the departments of defense, state, transportation, veterans affairs, housing and urban development, interior, and energy, the newspaper said.

The watchdogs say the removals may be invalid for failing to comply with a 2022 law requiring a 30-day notification to Congress before removals.

According to multiple outlets, most of the people fired were inspectors Trump had appointed during his first term. They were all notified by email from the White House personnel director that their firing was effective immediately.