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.”

President Donald Trump fired the inspectors general from more than a dozen federal agencies in a Friday night purge, according to a Trump administration official, paving the way for him to install his own picks for the independent watchdog roles.

The dismissals appeared to violate federal law, which requires Congress to receive 30 days’ notice of any intent to fire a Senate-confirmed inspector general.

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

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

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.

Michael Missal, inspector general at the Department of Veterans Affairs since 2016, was one of more than a dozen inspectors general fired by President Donald Trump.

President Trump fired at least 12 inspectors general across the federal government Friday night, multiple outlets reported.