Top FBI officials brace for Trump shake-up

Top officials at the FBI are facing a shake-up by the Trump administration.

According to House Judiciary Committee Democrats, the five executive assistant directors of the bureau were notified they would be demoted.

“These changes will further jeopardize our national security, leaving the FBI with no experienced senior leadership and a partisan Trump loyalist heading up the Bureau’s response to increasing security threats from Russia, China, and other authoritarian adversaries,” the committee said in a fact sheet circulated to House Democrats.

The move targets the band of top officials who oversee the FBI’s five internal branches and are among the highest-ranking career positions in the bureau. Many report directly to the director and deputy director.

They oversee the FBI’s national security branch and criminal and cyber branch, among others.

The FBI and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The move follows reporting by various outlets indicating an imminent shake-up.

Bloomberg reported Wednesday that officials were told to expect reassignments, while The New York Times reported Friday that some officials have been told to resign or be fired.

According to the Times, one official was told he would be removed “from the rolls of the F.B.I.” as soon as Monday morning.

At his Thursday hearing, Kash Patel, whom President Trump nominated to serve as director of the agency, denied having any insight into current officials’ jobs being threatened.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) largely framed the question in reference to the prosecution team that worked on Trump’s criminal cases, asking if FBI officials would be removed like those at the Justice Department.

He similarly asked about plans to bring in five political appointees associated with Patel, which would be an expansion of the limited number of political roles in a largely career-based staff.

Patel denied having insight into current personnel matters but said he would follow the review process required before removing employees.

“I don't know what's going on right now over there, but I'm committed to you, Senator, and your colleagues, that I will honor the internal review process of the FBI,” Patel said.

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