Trump Administration Forces Out Senior FBI Officials and January 6 Prosecutors
Trump Claims Unawareness of Removals, While Thousands of FBI Agents Involved in January 6 Investigation Are Under Review
In a significant shake-up, the Trump administration has removed all six of the FBI’s senior executives and several heads of FBI field offices across the United States, according to current and former FBI officials speaking to NBC News. The removals include prominent figures such as the head of the Washington, D.C., field office, which played a crucial role in investigations related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and in the prosecution of President Donald Trump.
Among those affected are approximately two dozen federal prosecutors involved in the January 6 cases. A letter sent to the fired prosecutors cited their involvement in the riot investigations as the reason for their removal, referencing an executive order signed by Trump that describes the prosecutions as a “grave national injustice.”
Additionally, the acting director of the FBI, Brian J. Driscoll, Jr., issued a memo to FBI employees on Friday informing them that Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove had requested a list of all FBI agents involved in the January 6 investigations for a further review. The memo acknowledged that this review would encompass thousands of FBI employees nationwide.
It remains unclear why these FBI and DOJ officials were ousted, as both agencies declined to comment on the matter. However, Trump distanced himself from the removals when asked about them on Friday, claiming he was unaware of the actions. He did, however, express support for the firings, describing some FBI officials as “corrupt” and stating that they had caused harm to the country by “weaponizing” the Justice Department.
“I wasn’t involved in that,” Trump said. “But if they fired some people over there, that’s a good thing, because they were very bad. They were very corrupt people, and they hurt our country badly.”
David Sundberg, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Washington field office, was informed on Thursday that he would be leaving the bureau. He and other senior leaders in the FBI’s headquarters—including those overseeing national security, intelligence, criminal and cyber response, and human resources—were all forced out. Many of these officials, including Sundberg, opted to retire, even though they had the option to challenge their terminations under civil service rules.
Among the removals was Jeffrey Veltri, special agent in charge in Miami, and Spencer Evans, special agent in charge of the Las Vegas field office. Evans expressed his shock in a note to his staff, stating that he had been informed by FBI headquarters that he, along with other executives, would be dismissed, but no explanation was given for the decision.
The Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul the FBI mirror past practices of new directors making sweeping changes. However, these removals are seen as particularly significant, especially given the ongoing political tensions between Trump and the bureau. Experts warn that these actions could weaken the FBI’s effectiveness and pose risks to national security, particularly as many of the dismissed officials were seasoned and experienced leaders.
Frank Figliuzzi, former head of FBI counterintelligence, expressed concern over the removals, suggesting that they could have a detrimental impact on the agency’s operations. “The forced departure of some of the most experienced and proven leaders of the FBI puts our national security in the danger zone,” he said.
Some FBI officials are reportedly contemplating early retirement, as the political atmosphere at the bureau becomes increasingly charged. While Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel, has pledged to ensure that FBI employees are protected from political retaliation, these recent firings have raised concerns within the bureau about its future direction and independence.
As the review process continues, former FBI officials and current agents alike are grappling with the potential long-term effects of these removals on the agency’s reputation and its ability to carry out its critical missions.