FBI Dismisses Senior Officials at Odds with Trump Administration

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 2238 EAT on Thursday 7 August 2025

Two senior FBI officials are being dismissed, including one who had reportedly resisted efforts by the Trump administration to obtain the names of agents involved in investigations related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Brian Driscoll, who served as acting FBI director prior to the confirmation of current Director Kash Patel, is among those being removed. Steve Jensen, the acting director of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, is also being dismissed, sources said.

The reasons for their departures have not been officially confirmed, but the moves come amid reported tensions between the FBI leadership and the Trump administration over the handling of January 6-related cases.

The administration is also dismissing additional FBI agents this week who are believed to have previously expressed opposition to Donald Trump, according to three sources familiar with the bureau’s internal actions.

The FBI and its Washington Field Office declined to comment on the dismissals. Efforts to obtain a statement from the New York Field Office are ongoing.

Brian Driscoll and Steve Jensen informed colleagues of their departures on Thursday, according to internal letters reviewed by this publication. In his message, Driscoll stated that he had not been given a reason for his termination.

“Last night I was informed that tomorrow will be my last day in the FBI,” Driscoll wrote. “I understand that you may have a lot of questions regarding why, for which I currently have no answers. No cause has been articulated at this time.”

He concluded his letter with a note of gratitude: “Our collective sacrifices for those we serve is, and will always be, worth it. I regret nothing. You are my heroes, and I remain in your debt.”

In the opening weeks of Donald Trump’s second term, at least six senior FBI officials—at the executive assistant director level or serving as special agents in charge—have been forced to retire, resign, or have been dismissed. The officials impacted include those overseeing critical divisions such as cyber, national security, and criminal investigations.

Tensions within the bureau reportedly intensified over specific incidents, including one involving Brian Driscoll. According to a person familiar with the matter, Driscoll drew criticism from top administration officials for not disciplining an FBI pilot aligned with current FBI Director Kash Patel. The pilot had allegedly been involved in issuing a subpoena connected to the Mar-a-Lago investigation into former President Trump and his associates.

The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA), a nonprofit organization that represents current and former agents, expressed alarm over the recent firings. In a statement released Thursday, the group said it is “deeply concerned” by the dismissals and is “actively reviewing all legal options to defend our members.”

“We are deeply concerned by reports that FBI Special Agents—case agents and senior leaders alike—are going to be summarily fired without due process for doing their jobs investigating potential federal crimes,” the association said.

The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) has warned that the firing of agents without due process poses a threat to public safety and the integrity of federal law enforcement. In a statement, the organization emphasized that agents “followed the law” and do not choose the cases to which they are assigned.

“If these agents are fired without due process, it makes the American people less safe,” the association said. “Agents need to be focused on their work and not on potentially being illegally fired based on their assignments.”

Internal tensions within the bureau have escalated in recent months. Earlier this year, a plan to rapidly dismiss more than 100 mid- and senior-level FBI employees sparked a weeklong standoff between then–Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove and senior FBI official Brian Driscoll. The plan triggered internal protests and pushback from within the agency.

The internal rebellion reportedly led President Trump to appoint conservative commentator and loyalist Dan Bongino as deputy director of the FBI. Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and media personality, has since considered resigning over the administration’s handling of documents and sensitive information related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, according to sources familiar with the matter.

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