Trump Pushes FBI Executives to Resign as Part of Federal Purge
Several senior officials, including top managers, are told to step down as the administration continues its overhaul of federal agencies.
WASHINGTON — In a significant shake-up, several high-ranking FBI executives, including some of the bureau's top managers, were told Thursday to either resign or retire or face termination. The directive affects about a half-dozen "executive assistant directors," who oversee critical areas such as criminal, national security, and cyber investigations. These individuals are career civil servants, making their dismissal more complicated and requiring cause.
Among those impacted are the heads of field offices in Miami and Las Vegas, according to multiple current and former FBI officials.
Spencer Evans, the special agent in charge of the Las Vegas office, revealed in a note to colleagues that he had been informed by FBI headquarters that he and several other senior executives would be dismissed as early as Monday. “I was given no rationale for this decision, which has come as a shock,” Evans wrote, according to a copy obtained by NBC News.
While previous reports indicated that affected officials might have been offered demotions or reassignment, it appears this was not the case for most of those involved.
A current FBI official described the move as “hugely disruptive,” while a former official, speaking to NBC News, expressed frustration, noting that these individuals are not considered political figures and have no clear reason for their ouster.
The FBI has declined to comment on the personnel changes, which were initially reported by CNN.
This purge comes as part of a broader series of personnel shifts in the early days of the Trump administration. Last week, Trump dismissed 18 inspectors general across various departments, including State, Defense, Labor, and Health and Human Services. Trump defended these actions, claiming some officials had been unfair or ineffective in their roles.
The removals also come after Trump has taken action against career attorneys at the Department of Justice involved in investigations related to him, raising concerns about retribution against those who have challenged his administration.
In response to these ongoing moves, Trump has selected Kash Patel, a former deputy to Congressman Devin Nunes, to lead the FBI should he be re-elected. Patel assured lawmakers during a Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday that, if confirmed, he would not pursue retributive actions against those in the bureau.
The ongoing reshuffling within federal agencies continues to raise alarm about the potential politicization of government roles, especially among career civil servants who traditionally serve beyond party lines.