Inside the upheaval at the FBI under Trump's new leadership

Inside the upheaval at the FBI under Trump's new leadership

Before his confirmation as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kash Patel made his intentions clear: the FBI, in his view, was a broken institution in need of radical change. In his book Government Gangsters, Patel called for gutting the agency’s leadership, arguing that it had become a threat to the American people. Now, with Trump back in office and Patel installed as director, that vision is being swiftly and aggressively implemented, the New York Times reported.

Over the past several weeks, longtime agents have been forced out, demoted, or sidelined without explanation. Senior personnel are undergoing polygraph tests, including on matters unrelated to national security, as Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, restructure the agency to align with Trump’s priorities. Former and current agents describe the atmosphere as one of fear and uncertainty, with some viewing the changes as retribution for work conducted under previous administrations.

A purge of experience, and a shift in mission

Since taking office, Patel and Bongino have replaced seasoned leaders with new appointees, many with fewer credentials or unconventional paths to their posts. Among the most controversial moves was disbanding the Washington field office’s public corruption unit—once responsible for investigating Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Other high-profile departures include the sudden retirement of the official tasked with safeguarding national security surveillance from abuse.

Critics say the overhaul is not just administrative—it’s ideological. Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and conservative media personality, has publicly pledged to revisit investigations that previously angered Trump and his allies, such as the January 6 pipe bomb case, the Supreme Court abortion opinion leak, and the 2023 White House cocaine incident. In some instances, Bongino and Patel appear to be asserting FBI jurisdiction over matters traditionally handled by other agencies.

“The director and I will have most of our incoming reform teams in place by next week,” Bongino wrote recently, signalling an accelerated timeline for reshaping the bureau’s leadership.

Polygraphs and pressure as tools of control

Perhaps most alarming to bureau veterans is the expanded use of polygraph tests. Traditionally reserved for sensitive investigations or security screenings, Patel is reportedly using polygraphs as loyalty checks—targeting employees suspected of leaking information or criticising agency leadership. One former agent said the tests are now being used to “suss out gossip,” a dramatic break from past practices.

Even long-serving senior agents have not been spared. One top official was forced out after Patel learned that the man’s wife had knelt in a 2020 protest against police violence. Others were given ultimatums to accept lower posts in cities like Huntsville, Jacksonville, and Mobile—or face retirement.

In several field offices—including those in St. Louis, San Diego, and Phoenix—special agents in charge have been reassigned or replaced. In some cases, Patel has elevated junior agents who had not completed the usual leadership rotations, or even brought back retirees to fill key roles.

A chilling effect on future investigations

Inside the FBI, morale is reportedly low. Former officials fear the bureau’s new direction will deter agents from opening politically sensitive investigations, especially those involving Trump or his allies. “In essence,” said one official, “nobody is above the law—except Trump.”

Some agents and analysts have chosen to retire rather than risk scrutiny or forced relocation. Others, particularly those associated with previous investigations into Trump, Hunter Biden, or Russian interference, are being placed on administrative leave.

The agency’s own leadership directory remains out of date, with several departed personnel still listed as active—symbolising what some insiders say is a broader leadership vacuum.

A politicised bureau, or one being ‘de-politicised’?

Patel and Bongino insist they are restoring the FBI to a neutral, law-enforcing mission by removing those who politicised it under past administrations. But their aggressive tactics, targeting of perceived internal dissent, and public focus on right-wing grievances have drawn comparisons to the very weaponisation they once condemned.

“This isn’t reform,” one former agent said. “It’s retaliation dressed up as reform.”

Patel, in testimony before Congress, downplayed the changes. “The good news is from the folks that I’ve met in the bureau, we’ve been able to retain significant levels of senior leadership both in Washington and throughout the country,” he said.

But as fear grows inside the bureau and its ranks thin out, the long-term consequences of these moves—on institutional memory, operational integrity, and national security—remain uncertain.