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By Gabe Whisnant
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Brian Driscoll, a senior FBI official who briefly served as acting director in the early days of the Trump administration, is being ousted from the bureau amid a sweeping leadership purge, two sources familiar with the matter told the Associated Press.
The veteran agent with extensive counterterrorism experience is expected to leave the FBI on Friday.
"I understand that you may have a lot of questions regarding why, for which I have no answers," Driscoll wrote in a message to colleagues. "No cause has been articulated at this time."
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An FBI spokesperson declined to comment when reached by Newsweek via email Thursday night.
Why It Matters
While the exact circumstances of his removal remain unclear, his exit comes as the FBI undergoes major internal restructuring under Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino.
What to Know
Driscoll most recently served as acting director of the bureau's Critical Incident Response Group, which oversees deployments during national crises. He had also previously led the elite Hostage Rescue Team and managed high-profile international investigations out of the New York field office. In January, he was appointed acting director while Patel's nomination was pending following the departure of Christopher Wray.
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Driscoll drew national attention earlier this year when he and then–Deputy Director Rob Kissane resisted pressure from Trump administration officials to turn over the names of FBI agents who had participated in the investigation into the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Instead, the bureau provided anonymized data—identifying agents by unique employee numbers—in response to a request from senior Justice Department official Emil Bove, who later accused FBI leadership of "insubordination" in a memo. Bove was confirmed last week to a seat on the federal appeals court.
The FBI's internal upheaval under Patel and Bongino has included the reassignment or forced resignation of numerous senior officials, including special agents in charge of several major field offices. Some agents have also reportedly been subjected to polygraph exams, a move that former officials say has shaken morale and deepened internal distrust.
One such reassignment occurred in April, when several agents who had been photographed kneeling during a 2020 racial justice protest in Washington were removed from their posts, sources said.
Other High-Profile FBI Terminations
Another high-profile dismissal from the FBI is Steven Jensen, who had served for months as the assistant director in charge of the bureau's Washington field office—one of its largest and most active divisions. In a message to colleagues on Thursday, Jensen confirmed that he had been informed of his termination, effective Friday.
Jensen did not disclose whether a reason had been given for his removal. However, his appointment to the position in April sparked backlash from some Trump supporters due to his previous oversight of the FBI's domestic terrorism section following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The FBI has classified that attack—carried out by supporters of Donald Trump attempting to block certification of the 2020 election—as an act of domestic terrorism.
Sources familiar with the matter also identified another agent, Walter Giardina, as being forced out. Giardina has come under scrutiny from Senator Chuck Grassley, the Republican chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. His past work includes the investigation of Trump adviser Peter Navarro, who was later convicted of contempt of Congress.
Another agent, Michael Feinberg, said he was pressured to resign or accept demotion after leadership raised concerns over his association with Peter Strzok, the former lead agent in the Trump-Russia investigation who was fired in 2018 over politically charged texts.
What People Are Saying
The FBI Agents Association said in a statement that it was concerned by reports of the firings of senior leaders and that it was reviewing all legal options to defend its members:
"There is a review process when employment actions are taken against agents. The process was established so that the FBI could remain independent and apolitical. FBI leadership committed — both publicly and directly to FBIAA — that they would abide by that process. We urge them to honor that commitment and follow the law," the statement said.
Jensen said in an email to colleagues: "I intend to meet this challenge like any other I have faced in this organization, with professionalism, integrity and dignity."
What Happens Next
The FBI declined to comment on Driscoll's departure or the wider leadership reshuffle. However, additional personnel changes are reportedly under consideration.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Update: 8/7/25, 6:23 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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