The Trump administration has reportedly instructed senior FBI officials to either resign or face termination, according to Fox News. While the exact number of officials affected has not been revealed, the ultimatum was reportedly directed at senior employees who were promoted under former FBI Director Christopher A. Wray. This action comes as Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI, stated that he would not start his tenure with a focus on retribution or past wrongdoings.
“I have no interest, no desire and will not, if confirmed, go backwards. There will be no politicization at the FBI. There will be no retributive actions taken,” Patel said at the Senate Judiciary Committee during his Thursday hearing. According to reporting from The New York Times, an email to colleagues from one of the senior agents outlined that he had learned he would be dismissed “from the rolls of the F.B.I.” as soon as Monday morning. “I was given no rationale for this decision, which, as you might imagine, has come as a shock,” he wrote.
During the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Patel stated he is unaware of any plans for retribution by the Trump administration.
“Are you aware of any plans or discussions to punish in any way, including termination, FBI agents or personnel associated with Trump investigations?” asked Democratic Sen. Cory Booker. “I am not aware of that, senator,” Patel replied. Although Patel has been nominated, an official confirmation for the director position has not yet been made, leaving the news of the ultimatum unsettling for those affected. Until the Senate vote concludes, Brian Driscoll continues to serve as the FBI’s acting director.
The FBI memo comes after President Donald Trump fired off a warning to federal workers who still have not returned to work in mostly vacant office buildings throughout Washington, D.C., that they must do so soon or be fired, while also suggesting that many of them may have violated federal rules and working for a private company while they were working their federal jobs from home.
“Just for clarification purposes, because it was incorrectly reported yesterday, we have informed the federal workforce, which they’ve looked to do for many years, that if they’re working for the federal government, they must show up to the office on time and on schedule,” Trump said on Wednesday during a signing ceremony for the Laken Riley Act, an immigration law named after a young University of Georgia student killed last year by a serial criminal illegal migrant from Venezuela.