As Trump takes charge, FBI sees a major shake-up: 'If you're not doing your job, you should be removed'

UPDATED: Jan 23, 2025 00:32 IST

US President Donald Trump has wasted no time making sweeping changes to FBI, as he promised during the campaign, starting with the appointment of Brian Driscoll as acting director.

The appointment follows the resignation of former FBI Director Christopher Wray and acting director Paul Abbate shortly before Trump assumed office on January 20.

Driscoll, an FBI veteran, stepped into the acting role as Trump moves forward with his selection of Kashyap "Kash" Patel as the next permanent FBI director, Fox News reported.

Patel, a vocal critic of the FBI, is set to face Senate confirmation hearings beginning on January 29.

Driscoll's appointment is a critical first step in Trump’s broader goal to reform the agency, which has faced criticism for its role in various scandals during the Biden administration.

Driscoll, who joined the FBI in 2007, has a distinguished career within the agency, having led the FBI’s Newark Field Office and the Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), the report said.

His appointment signals a focus on tactical leadership and specialized expertise as the bureau navigates significant changes under Trump’s administration.

Retired FBI agent Scott Duffey praised Driscoll’s background, saying: “It’s a tall order, and I wish him well.”

Trump’s overhaul is also marked by the reassignment of several senior figures within the FBI. The longtime head of the Justice Department’s office of international affairs, Bruce Swartz, along with as many as 20 other staffers, were moved to different positions.

The Fox report said that these changes signal Trump’s commitment to rooting out corruption within the FBI and the Department of Justice, a promise he made throughout Biden’s tenure.

Nicole Parker, a former FBI agent, expressed support for Abbate’s decision to retire, citing his involvement in controversial investigations like the Mar-a-Lago raid and the January 6th cases. "It was probably in his best interest to leave voluntarily rather than be removed by the new administration," Parker said.

On his first day in office, Trump signed a memorandum aimed at restoring accountability within the federal government. "You are working for the American taxpayers, and if you're not doing your job, you should be removed," Parker was quoted as saying by Fox.

With Driscoll now at the helm and Patel’s confirmation process underway, Trump’s overhaul of the FBI is set to reshape the agency and its operations as part of his broader effort to reform the federal government.