WASHINGTON — Former Long Island Rep. Anthony D’Esposito testified to a Senate panel Wednesday that if confirmed as inspector general of the U.S. Labor Department he would act "independently" in the government watchdog role, which became vacant when President Donald Trump fired more than a dozen IGs during his first week in office.

D’Esposito, an Island Park Republican who lost his reelection bid last November to current Rep. Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre), fielded questions from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee as part of his confirmation process.

The one-term House member, whose race against Gillen for New York’s 4th Congressional District drew national attention and a Trump rally at Nassau Coliseum, repeatedly told lawmakers that he would act independently regardless of any political pressure he might face from the Trump administration.

"I look forward to, if confirmed, leading the Inspector General's Office of the Department of Labor without fear or favor," D’Esposito told Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) during a round of questioning in which he also spoke about his time as an NYPD detective and a Hempstead Town councilman.

Murkowski told D’Esposito the Inspector General Act of 1978, which established the Office of Inspector General across a number of federal agencies, calls for "an expectation of independence and objectivity." The role calls for IGs to root out government fraud and wasteful spending.

D’Esposito was asked his views on Trump’s firing of 18 inspector generals during the president’s first week back, without giving the required 30-day notice to Congress.

"I support that the American people elected President Trump to lead this country, and if President Trump decided — if I was confirmed — to dismiss me, I would understand," D’Esposito told Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.).

The fired inspectors general sued the Trump administration in federal court for reinstatement, citing the lack of congressional notification. But a federal court judge ruled in March that, while the administration may have violated the law by shirking the 30-day requirement, she could not reinstate the watchdogs to their roles because they likely would be placed "on administrative leave immediately" and ultimately fired 30 days later.

Trump previously defended the firings, telling reporters aboard Air Force One on Jan. 25, "I don’t know them, but some people thought that some were unfair or were not doing the job."

Members of the Senate panel have until Friday to submit any written questions to D’Esposito and will convene a future meeting to vote on his nomination, which if approved will move to the full Senate for a floor vote.

In opening remarks, D’Esposito noted he was joined by "my partner in life, Cindy," referring to his fiancee Cynthia Lark.

D’Esposito faced scrutiny during his reelection bid after a New York Times report revealed that Lark’s daughter was a paid employee in his district office, in possible violation of House ethics rules barring the employment of relatives. The Times also reported the congressman had an alleged paramour on the payroll of his district office.

Throughout the campaign, D’Esposito denied any wrongdoing, saying "there was nothing done that was not ethical." He was not asked about the report on Wednesday.