The full scope of the Friday night mass firings was coming into sharper view as one fired watchdog official warned of “a never-ending cycle of politicization.”

Lawmakers in both parties expressed concern that the White House might have circumvented federal rules in dismissing government watchdogs.

The White House defied a law that requires giving Congress 30 days’ notice and detailed reasons before removing the watchdog officials.

President Donald Trump reportedly fired 17 inspectors general overnight. 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.

The Trump administration has fired about 17 independent inspectors general at federal agencies, a move consistent with his efforts to reshape the federal government in his first few days back in the White House. Here’s what to know about inspectors general, and Trump’s latest removal of them:

"The American people, if we don't have good and independent inspector generals, are going to see the swamp refill," Schiff said.

Several key U.S. Senate Republicans on Sunday defended President Donald Trump's decision to fire independent government watchdogs across at least 17 federal agencies, even though the move ran afoul of federal law.