A number of top officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) either left or were forced out of their positions late last night. At least 20 director or assistant director-level employees were dismissed or resigned across the country, impacting several major field offices, including Miami, Las Vegas, and the FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The move came just after Kash Patel, President Donald J. Trump’s nominee to serve as FBI director, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Patel stressed the need to disperse FBI resources across the country and reorient the bureau to focus on addressing violent crime and not politically motivated prosecutions.
While the impetus for the dismissals and resignations is not immediately apparent, it reflects the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul the federal government and remove career bureaucrats who aren’t doing their jobs, or who have abused their power or allowed abuses to occur under their watch.
Once confirmed as director, Patel is expected to continue pushing for further staffing and structural changes at the bureau, and a number of agents expect to be transferred out of Washington, D.C., and into the field.
During his confirmation hearing, Patel emphasized that over one-third of current FBI employees are stationed in Washington, D.C., which is unacceptable. He stated he intends to push more agents into the field and build relationships with state and local law enforcement so the bureau can better assist and provide resources to combat rising crime.
