When Trump returned, "chaos" began in the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

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The work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has slowed down due to the "chaos" that has arisen after the new administration of the US President initiated personnel changes and layoffs, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

More than two dozen employees of the FBI and the Department of Justice have already been fired, and the White House has begun compiling a list of thousands of people who could be fired in 2021 for their role in the investigation into the Capitol siege.

On January 27, at least ten federal prosecutors who were investigating Donald Trump were given notice of their dismissal. The new Justice Department leadership has stated that it “cannot rely on their services” to implement the US president’s plans.

On January 31, Deputy Attorney General Emile Bove (who previously worked on Trump’s legal team) sent a letter to Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll, saying that the bureau’s top leaders should resign or be fired. He also asked the bureau to provide a list of those who investigated the Capitol storming.

It is reported that thousands of FBI agents were given a 12-question questionnaire about their role in investigating the January 6, 2021 riots. On February 4, Driscoll announced that he had fulfilled the Justice Department’s request, providing information on more than 5,000 people. As the WSJ wrote, only ID numbers were listed, not names. Bove was dissatisfied with this and demanded a list of all FBI employees, the WSJ reported.

On February 4, a group of FBI agents sued the Justice Department to keep their names secret, fearing that Trump supporters would release the list of employees, putting agents and their families at risk.

The FBI Agents Association told the WSJ that some employees are so worried about the layoffs that they have already cleared their desks. The association has sent a letter to its members urging them not to resign or accept such offers.

According to the publication's sources, "the bureau's work has slowed down in this chaos" and the daily briefing time for senior FBI officials has been "reduced."

The new administration is also giving FBI employees new tasks, the WSJ reported. In particular, Bove ordered the counterterrorism task forces created after the September 11, 2001, attacks to join the investigation of immigration crimes. He relaxed his order after FBI officials told him the reassignment would distract agents from tracking terrorism suspects.

One FBI agent who investigated child exploitation crimes said he was assigned to help with immigration investigations.

According to the WSJ, Trump's nominee for FBI director, Kesh Patel, will reduce the bureau's counterintelligence and counterterrorism efforts. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Patel spoke "only superficially" about China, not mentioning the Russian threat at all.

One of Patel's aides believes the incoming FBI director will shift agents who deal with securities fraud and antitrust violations to investigate drug trafficking and street crime. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”