• The FBI has ordered its former acting director to depart by Friday amid a dispute over Jan. 6 agent records.
• Brian Driscoll refused to hand over the list of agents supporting Capitol storming cases.
• Career leaders and lawmakers decry a politicized purge endangering bureau morale.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation has ordered the ouster of former acting director Brian Driscoll by the end of the week, following his refusal to provide a list of agents involved in investigations tied to the January 6 Capitol riot. Driscoll, a 20-year veteran known internally as “Drizz,” had returned to a career position after briefly leading the bureau at the dawn of the Trump administration. His dismissal, confirmed by a source familiar with internal discussions, has ignited concern among lawmakers, agents, and law enforcement veterans over what they describe as an accelerating politicization of the FBI.

A Defender of Bureau Integrity

Driscoll earned broad respect within the agency for defending rank-and-file agents. When pressed by Emil Bove, the then-No. 3 at the Justice Department, to disclose the full roster of agents who worked January 6 cases, Driscoll responded by noting, “I am one of those employees.” The proposed disclosure prompted an internal lawsuit from agents who feared retaliation if their names became public.

In a farewell message posted by a colleague on LinkedIn, Driscoll acknowledged that no reason had been given for his firing:

“I understand that you may have a lot of questions regarding why, for which I currently have no answers. No cause has been articulated at this time…Our collective sacrifices for those we serve is, and will always be, worth it. I regret nothing. You are my heroes, and I remain in your debt.”

Wider Purge Sweeps Through FBI

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Driscoll’s removal appears to be part of a larger reshuffle targeting senior nonpolitical appointees. Steve Jensen, who had led the Washington Field Office since April under the appointment of Director Kash Patel, and senior agent Walter Giardina have also been shown the door. Jensen had been scheduled to represent the FBI at a high-profile Justice Department press conference Thursday, but was replaced without notice by a subordinate.

Jensen had previously earned praise from Trump-aligned officials for his handling of January 6 matters. In May, Patel lauded him on Fox News as an agent who “fought back against the machine,” referencing pressures from within the Bureau to conform to political expectations.

Giardina, for his part, had drawn scrutiny from Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who recently demanded the FBI and DOJ turn over documents related to his investigations.

Lawmakers, Agents Sound the Alarm

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The FBI Agents Association issued a rare public rebuke, accusing the Trump administration of summary dismissals without due process:

“Agents are not given the option to pick and choose their cases… These agents carried out their assignments with professionalism and integrity. Most importantly, they followed the law.”

The statement was echoed by Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, who called the firings “alarming” and a threat to the integrity of American law enforcement.

“The continued purging of experienced, nonpartisan FBI agents by the Trump administration is nothing short of alarming… These are individuals who have dedicated their careers to protecting the American people.”

A Pattern of Retaliation

This latest sweep comes on the heels of a broader campaign that saw the removal of the five most senior career officials at the FBI earlier this year, as well as the heads of several regional field offices. Critics have described the pattern as a clear effort to centralize control within politically loyal hands and to punish dissenters unwilling to bend to the administration’s directives.

Driscoll’s act of defiance—refusing to hand over a list that could have exposed thousands of agents to threats or professional retaliation—has since gone viral. The “What Would Drizz Do?” slogan and meme campaign has made him an unlikely symbol of institutional resistance, with depictions ranging from saintly halos to quiet acts of patriotic defiance.

At What Cost to the Bureau?

Insiders warn that this purge threatens to further damage the FBI’s morale and independence at a time when public confidence in federal institutions remains strained. With seasoned professionals being replaced or dismissed, the Bureau risks hollowing out its nonpartisan law enforcement core in favor of political expedience.

Can the FBI preserve its mission when fidelity to the law is punished instead of praised?

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