The Trump administration is preparing to fire dozens of FBI agents and supervisors involved in the investigations into the January 6 Capitol riot and former President Donald Trump, according to CNN.
The firings, expected to take place on Friday, are part of Trump’s broader effort to overhaul the Department of Justice (DOJ) and remove officials he has accused of being part of the so-called “deep state.”
Sources indicate that the agents and their superiors, many of whom played key roles in investigating Trump and his associates, will be dismissed.
Concerns over job security had reportedly been growing within the agency since Trump took office, as he has long vowed to reform the Justice Department and take action against those he believes were politically motivated in their investigations.
The mass terminations follow a string of recent removals of senior FBI executives who had been appointed by former FBI Director Christopher Wray.
On Thursday, these officials were reportedly given the option to resign or face termination. Earlier this week, additional DOJ officials involved in Trump-related investigations were also fired.
This included members of the team that worked under former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who resigned before Trump’s inauguration.
Trump had been under investigation in two major cases led by Smith and the Biden administration’s DOJ. One case accused Trump of unlawfully retaining classified documents after leaving office—an allegation similar to one faced by President Joe Biden, though Biden was not prosecuted.
The second case focused on Trump’s alleged efforts to interfere with the 2020 presidential election results. Both cases were ultimately dismissed before Trump was sworn in.
Beyond the investigations into Trump himself, the FBI and DOJ were deeply involved in prosecuting individuals linked to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In the years following the riot, hundreds of participants were arrested and charged, with many receiving significant prison sentences.
However, upon taking office, Trump issued pardons to over 1,500 individuals who had been convicted or charged in connection with the riot.
The pardons marked one of his first major executive actions and sent a clear message about his stance on the prosecutions.
The firings and pardons are part of Trump’s broader strategy to reshape the federal law enforcement agencies he has frequently criticized.
During his campaign and transition period, Trump repeatedly pledged to dismantle what he called the “weaponization” of the DOJ and FBI, arguing that both agencies had been improperly used to target conservatives and his political allies.
Administration officials have suggested that more personnel changes within the DOJ and FBI could follow in the coming weeks, as Trump continues his push to remake the federal law enforcement landscape.
While supporters of the move argue that these actions are necessary to restore fairness and integrity to the justice system, critics contend that they represent a dangerous politicization of law enforcement.
This is a developing story.