Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll has reportedly refused a Department of Justice (DOJ) directive to assist in the termination of agents involved in the January 6 Capitol riot investigations. This move has sparked concerns within the FBI about potential repercussions for Driscoll and the agency’s independence.
On January 31, 2025, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove issued a memorandum to Driscoll, instructing him to terminate eight senior FBI officials and to compile a comprehensive list of all current and former FBI personnel who participated in the January 6 investigations. The memo emphasized that these actions were necessary to ensure alignment with President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Bove, a former defense attorney for President Trump, expressed concerns about the loyalty of certain FBI employees, stating, “I do not believe that the current leadership of the Justice Department can trust these FBI employees to assist in implementing the President’s agenda faithfully.” He further referenced President Trump’s executive order aimed at “Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government,” suggesting that the terminations were part of efforts to restore integrity and accountability within federal agencies.
In response, Driscoll communicated with FBI staff, acknowledging the DOJ’s directive but expressing reservations about its implications. He noted that the request encompassed “thousands of employees across the country who have supported these investigative efforts,” including himself and Acting Deputy Director Kissane. Driscoll emphasized the FBI’s commitment to following the law and agency policies, stating, “We are going to follow the law, follow FBI policy, and do what’s in the best interest of the workforce and the American people — always.”
His firm stance against the DOJ’s directive led to concerns among some FBI officials about potential retaliation, including the possibility of Driscoll’s dismissal. A former FBI official familiar with Driscoll’s actions commented, “He pushed back hard.”
This development follows a series of actions by the Trump administration targeting individuals involved in investigations related to the January 6 events. Earlier in the week, the DOJ terminated several prosecutors who had been working on these cases, citing a lack of trust in their ability to implement the President’s agenda.
The FBI Agents Association has expressed concern over these directives, warning that dismissing agents could undermine the bureau’s capacity to address national security and criminal threats. They emphasized that such actions could erode the protections afforded to career civil servants and compromise the agency’s independence.
President Trump, when questioned about the DOJ’s actions, denied direct involvement but expressed approval of the firings, stating, “If they fired some people over there, that’s a good thing, because they were very bad. They were very corrupt people, very corrupt, and they hurt our country very badly with the weaponization.”
The situation underscores ongoing tensions between the DOJ and the FBI regarding the handling of the January 6 investigations. As the administration continues its efforts to reshape federal law enforcement agencies, the resistance from within the FBI highlights the challenges of balancing political directives with the principles of agency independence and adherence to established protocols.
The broader implications of these actions remain to be seen, particularly concerning the morale within federal law enforcement and the potential impact on ongoing and future investigations. Observers are closely monitoring how these developments will influence the relationship between the DOJ and the FBI, as well as the overall integrity of federal law enforcement operations.