The Trump administration’s targeting of FBI personnel who investigated the former president has sparked panic and uncertainty within the bureau.
A Sudden Purge at the FBI
Last week, six of the FBI’s highest-ranking officials gathered at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, awaiting urgent orders from the Trump administration.
Among them was an investigator from the 9/11 terrorism probe and another who led the investigation into an assassination attempt on Trump last summer. Now, they were waiting for instructions from Brian Driscoll, the FBI’s acting director, who took over after Christopher Wray resigned in December 2024.
Driscoll had just come from a tense meeting with Emil Bove, the acting Deputy Attorney General, appointed by Trump. Bove issued an ultimatum: Resign by February 3 or be fired.
“I tried to stop this,” Driscoll told the group.
A Wide-Scale Government Shake-Up
Two weeks into Trump’s second term, his administration has aggressively cut funding for programs, dismantled diversity initiatives, and removed thousands of federal employees.
At the Justice Department (DOJ) and FBI, the firing spree has been rapid and extensive, focusing on officials who participated in past Trump-related investigations.
More than 20 senior officials and dozens of federal prosecutors have already lost their jobs. The administration has also compiled lists of thousands more employees under review, raising fears of further mass dismissals.
The FBI’s 38,000 agents, analysts, and technical staff are also being reassigned, with many being shifted to immigration enforcement, an area where the agency previously played a limited role.
For the past decade, the FBI’s leadership has primarily focused on foreign threats, including counterterrorism, cybercrime, and espionage from China and Russia.
However, Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, is expected to scale back counterintelligence and counterterrorism operations. During his Senate confirmation hearing last week, Patel briefly mentioned China but did not address threats from Russia.
According to aides, Patel is likely to reassign agents away from financial crimes investigations—such as securities fraud and antitrust violations—and redirect them toward drug-related and street crime cases.
A Political Crackdown
Bove, who was previously Trump’s personal defense attorney, now oversees the FBI as acting Deputy Attorney General. Over the past week, he has reportedly called FBI field office directors nationwide to ensure compliance with Trump’s immigration crackdown and encouraged them to publicly promote their roles on social media.
Some FBI agents who specialize in white-collar crime or national security say they were suddenly handed lists of undocumented immigrants, leaving them uncertain whether their job was still criminal investigation or immigration enforcement.
- One agent specializing in child exploitation cases was ordered to assist Homeland Security with immigration enforcement.
- A counterintelligence supervisor received similar instructions.
According to sources, Bove also ordered the FBI’s Counterterrorism Task Force, originally created after 9/11, to help with immigration raids. However, after pushback from senior FBI officials, he partially reversed this order.
A ‘Loyalty Purge’ at the FBI
On January 27, over 10 federal prosecutors involved in Trump-related investigations were fired via email, with the DOJ citing “lack of trust” in their ability to carry out Trump’s agenda.
One prosecutor was escorted by security while collecting personal belongings and denied access to send a farewell email to colleagues.
On January 31, Bove sent a memo to Driscoll, demanding that six top FBI officials resign or be fired, citing a need for “unwavering commitment” to Trump’s leadership.
The memo also ordered the FBI to compile a list of all agents involved in the January 6 Capitol riot investigation.
This sparked widespread fear among employees, as nearly 5,000 FBI agents had participated in the Capitol riot probe, raising concerns about a mass purge.
That same day, around 30 federal prosecutors in Washington were fired—all of whom had worked on Capitol riot prosecutions.
Bove claimed that these individuals had been improperly hired during Biden’s administration, framing their terminations as necessary "personnel corrections."
A Chilling Effect on FBI Operations
FBI agents nationwide were ordered to complete a 12-question survey about their involvement in the January 6 investigations. The key question asked:
"What was your role in any investigation or prosecution related to the events of January 6, 2021?"
Driscoll, in an internal email on February 4, admitted that he had provided a list of 5,000 agents to Bove but had only included ID numbers, job titles, and roles—omitting names to protect their identities.
On February 5, Bove criticized Driscoll for failing to provide the full list of names, calling it an act of defiance.
“Only those with guilty motives should be worried,” Bove said.
Lawsuits and Growing Resistance
FBI agents involved in the Capitol riot investigations have since filed a lawsuit to block the DOJ from releasing the list, fearing reprisals against themselves and their families.
The FBI Agents Association warned that morale was plummeting, with some employees preemptively cleaning out their desks.
To counter mass resignations, the association advised agents not to quit voluntarily:
"We do not condone disobedience, but know that if you are fired, it is not by choice."
In a February 2 message, the group urged agents to answer the DOJ’s survey with a generic legal response:
"I have not been informed of my rights regarding this matter."
On February 3, the association sent letters to Congress, warning that the DOJ’s actions were creating chaos within the FBI and compromising national security.
FBI in Disarray
Despite the backlash, on February 3, the six FBI executives given an ultimatum officially stepped down.
Some longtime agents are now considering resigning, believing the FBI has lost its independence.
One veteran FBI agent confided in a former senior official about quitting, prompting a stark response:
"I can't imagine the DOJ without you."
The agent replied:
"The DOJ doesn’t exist anymore."
(Sources: Wall Street Journal, AFP, Reuters)
Hello Shuttle will strive to bring the latest updates. At the end of the day.
Are you looking for reliable airport and cruise port transfer services in Los Angeles?
We offer professional, safe, and punctual transportation from
Los Angeles Airport - LAX
Long Beach Airport - LGB
John Wayne Airport - SNA
San Pedro cruise port
Long Beach cruise port
Disneyland
and other destinations.
Let us make your journey stress-free and comfortable with our dedicated drivers and high-quality vehicles. Book now for the perfect travel experience at www.helloshuttle.com or call 944-800-5678!
