FBI Agents Involved in Trump Investigations Reportedly Targeted for Mass Firings

FBI agents who were involved in investigations that led to the now-abandoned criminal charges against President Donald Trump are reportedly facing termination as part of a sweeping purge within the top U.S. law enforcement agency, U.S. media outlets reported on Friday.

Dozens of FBI agents who were part of the probe into the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot and Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol, as well as some supervisors, are being evaluated for possible dismissal. The Washington Post added that officials are working to identify potentially hundreds of FBI agents for removal.

In addition to the FBI shakeup, around 30 federal prosecutors involved in Capitol riot cases and on probationary status have been fired, sources said. On Monday, the Justice Department also dismissed several officials who had worked on prosecutions related to Trump. A Justice Department official stated that these positions were terminated because the acting attorney general did not believe the individuals “could be trusted to faithfully implement the president’s agenda.”

Among those facing termination at the FBI are heads of more than 20 field offices, including those in Miami and Washington. CNN added that at least six senior FBI leaders have been ordered to “retire, resign, or be fired by Monday.”

Brian Driscoll, the acting FBI director appointed by Trump, reportedly refused to approve the mass firings, according to The Washington Post.

Criticism from Lawmakers and Law Enforcement Groups

Dick Durbin, a top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, condemned the dismissals as a “brazen assault on the rule of law,” accusing the administration of political retribution against career law enforcement officials. Durbin argued that the purge would severely undermine the integrity and effectiveness of the FBI and the Justice Department, harming national security and public safety.

The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA), a group that advocates for the rights of FBI employees, also criticized the reported dismissals, saying it could “severely weaken the Bureau’s ability to protect the country from national security and criminal threats.” They warned that such actions would risk setting up the agency and its new leadership for failure.

Trump’s Role and Reactions from Key Figures

Special Counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal cases against Trump—one related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and another for mishandling classified documents—resigned earlier this month after both cases were dropped following Trump’s victory in the November election. Trump pardoned over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot on his first day back in office.

FBI Director Christopher Wray resigned following Trump’s reelection, and Trump named former advisor Kash Patel, a staunch loyalist, to head the bureau. During his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, Patel was asked about plans to punish FBI agents involved in the Trump investigations. He denied knowledge of any such plans and assured the committee that all FBI employees would be protected from political retribution.