The Trump administration ousts several senior FBI officials and prosecutors handling the January 6 investigation.

 Trump stated he was unaware of the removals. Officials also reported that thousands of FBI agents involved in the investigation of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol are under review.

Feb. 1, 2025, 5:05 AM GMT+6

The Trump administration has forced out six of the FBI’s most senior executives and multiple heads of field offices nationwide, according to current and former FBI officials.

Among those removed was the head of the Washington, D.C., field office, which played a key role in prosecuting President Donald Trump and individuals involved in the January 6 riot. Federal prosecutors investigating the January 6 attack were also impacted, with an estimated two dozen affected. A letter to the dismissed prosecutors cited their involvement in the January 6 cases and referenced a recent executive order from Trump describing the prosecutions as "a grave national injustice."

In a memo to FBI employees on Friday night, acting FBI Director Brian J. Driscoll, Jr. stated that acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove had requested a list of all FBI personnel involved in January 6 cases for a review to determine "whether any additional personnel actions are necessary."

“We understand that this request encompasses thousands of employees across the country who have supported these investigative efforts,” Driscoll wrote. “I am one of those employees.”

The FBI and DOJ have not provided explanations for the dismissals and declined to comment.

The removals occurred a day after Trump’s FBI director nominee, Kash Patel, testified in his Senate confirmation hearing that “all FBI employees will be protected against political retribution.”

When asked about the dismissals, Trump stated he was unaware but remarked that the FBI had been "weaponized at a level that nobody has ever seen before." He also suggested that some officials needed to be removed, referring to them as "very corrupt people."

Among those forced out was David Sundberg, the assistant director in charge of the Washington field office. Six senior leaders at FBI headquarters were also dismissed, including Robert Wells (national security branch), Ryan Young (intelligence branch), Robert Nordwall (criminal and cyber response), Arlene Gaylord (information technology), Jackie Maguire (science and technology), and J. William Rivers (human resources). Most were eligible for retirement, and many opted to retire rather than challenge their removal under civil service regulations.

Other officials removed included Jeffrey Veltri, special agent in charge of the Miami field office, and Spencer Evans, head of the Las Vegas field office. Evans informed his staff in a note obtained by NBC News that he was "given no rationale" for his dismissal.

Although it is common for new FBI directors to implement changes, experts note that past transitions, such as those under former FBI Director Louis Freeh, occurred after Senate confirmation. Patel has yet to be confirmed, but acting leadership within the FBI reportedly has ties to him, including Driscoll.

The Trump administration has also established a director’s advisory committee that includes a former aide to Rep. Jim Jordan and an individual linked to Elon Musk’s SpaceX. It remains unclear what role, if any, these individuals played in the dismissals.

Former FBI officials expressed concern about the changes. Frank Figliuzzi, former head of FBI counterintelligence, warned that removing experienced leaders could jeopardize national security.

“This is having a chilling effect,” an FBI official said. “Those who can retire are considering it. The general sentiment is they would rather leave than stay in this environment.”

During his confirmation hearing, Patel assured that there would be no political weaponization at the FBI. “There will be no retributive actions taken by any FBI should I be confirmed as FBI director,” he stated.