Media reports since Friday reveal that the Trump administration is actively identifying FBI agents involved in January 6 investigations, with firings and forced resignations expected in the coming days. According to numerous media reports, the administration has compiled a list of agents and officials they believe should be removed, with terminations expected to begin as early as last Friday and the final list set to be finalized by Monday.
They are “stunned,” Chris Christie reported on Sunday:
‘Incredibly Dangerous’: Chris Christie Says Trump’s ‘Overboard’ FBI Purge Puts America at Risk in ‘Threat Assessment We Have’https://t.co/L3H6A1YEvl
— Frances (@fhicks106) February 3, 2025
This development follows the circulation of a 12-question survey sent to some FBI employees, specifically asking about their roles in the January 6 investigation. The survey, according to ABC News, required employees to select responses from a menu of options and, in at least one question, provided a text box for additional input. The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) responded with a message to its members, expressing deep concern that this move “feels like agents and employees are being targeted, despite repeated assurances that ‘all FBI employees will be protected against political retribution.’”
The FBIAA advised its members to respond carefully, recommending they include specific legal language in the survey responses. The association encouraged employees to affirm that they were required to participate, were responding “without being afforded appropriate time to research” their answers, and had not been advised of their rights in the matter. The memo also emphasized that FBI employees should state that their work was conducted lawfully, within Department of Justice guidelines, and in accordance with the U.S. Constitution.
A Monday CNN report suggests that this FBI purge is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to root out political bias within federal law enforcement. The administration’s push to clean house at the FBI aligns with its longstanding grievances over the agency’s handling of both the January 6 investigations and the broader Trump-Russia probe, as well as other menacing treatments of President Trump’s supporters.
According to ABC News, some sources indicate that the list of potential terminations includes heads of multiple field offices across the country and could involve scores of agents from the FBI’s Washington, D.C., field office alone. If carried out, this move would mark one of the most significant shake-ups in the history of the FBI.
An FBI spokesperson declined to comment on the personnel matters, and public affairs officers at various field offices have also been instructed to stay silent on the issue. Meanwhile, the FBIAA memo urged caution, warning agents not to spread unverified rumors about dismissals. “We continue to hear rumors of dismissals/security revocations, or individuals who have been told to expect dismissals on Monday. Again, we have no confirmation of any such events. Please be cautious in sharing and spreading what could be misinformation. We do not need any more stress on those potentially impacted.”
For Trump supporters, this move is being hailed as a necessary step toward restoring accountability in the FBI. Many within the America First movement believe that the agency has been weaponized against conservatives for years, engaging in partisan investigations and actively working against the Trump presidency. Supporters argue that bad actors within the FBI must be purged to rebuild public trust in federal law enforcement.
As noted in the same Monday ABC News report, the FBI Agents Association sought to remind its members of the agency’s past sacrifices, highlighting the anniversary of two agents who were killed in the line of duty in 2021. However, critics of the FBI’s handling of political investigations argue that respecting law enforcement does not mean allowing a corrupt agency to operate unchecked.
The administration’s push to drain the swamp at the FBI is just the beginning of what Trump has promised will be a sweeping reform of the federal government if he secures re-election. While CNN and ABC News paint this as an unprecedented political purge, Trump’s base sees it as long-overdue justice.