Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, blasted President Donald Trump for reportedly firing up to 17 inspectors general at a host of federal agencies.

Not all watchdogs were shown the door, however. Inspectors general at the departments of Justice and Homeland Security as well as the Office of Personnel Management, the Federal Communications Commission and the Export-Import Bank have not been dismissed, according to Politico.

Durbin called the firings a "continuation" of Trump's "efforts to reshape the federal government without oversight or accountability" and with loyalty to him. 

"It is a brazen attempt to rig these offices to look the other way when violations of law take place. These dismissals clearly violate federal law, which requires the President to provide Congress with 30-day notice of intent and detailed reasons to fire inspectors general," he said.

"Inspectors general are vital for keeping the government honest and revealing waste, fraud, and abuse. Less than one week in office and President Trump is dismantling the checks and balances on the Executive Branch at an astounding rate," he added.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., described Trump's actions as chilling.

“This is a chilling purge, and it’s a preview of the lawless approach Donald Trump and his administration is taking far too often as he is becoming president,” Schumer said Saturday on the Senate floor.