By Allan Lengel
The firing of top FBI officials and the prospect of agents being fired for investigating matters they were assigned is raising grave concerns both in Washington and beyond.
Judge William Webster, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and former director of Central Intelligence; the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA), a voluntary professional association representing more than 14,000 active and retired FBI Special Agents, have written a joint letter to Congressional leaders, urging them to assure that agents aren’t targets of actions that lack transparency and due process, and undermine their careers.
The letter is as follows:
Dear Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Jeffries, Minority Leader Schumer, and Chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary and Intelligence committees:
We write on behalf of Judge William Webster, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and former director of Central Intelligence; the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA), a voluntary professional association representing more than 14,000 active and retired FBI Special Agents dedicated to protecting and advancing the careers, welfare, and integrity of Special Agents, ensuring they can continue their critical mission of protecting the American people; the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), the largest nonpartisan, nonprofit professional association, exclusively representing federal law enforcement officers throughout the United States; and the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, a fraternal educational and community-minded organization composed of former FBI Special Agents who served with Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity in defense of America.
We are reaching out to you, as the leaders of the House and Senate and the committees with primary jurisdiction over the FBI and intelligence issues, to raise urgent concerns about recent actions taken by acting officials at the Department of Justice that threaten the careers of thousands of FBI Special Agents and risk disrupting the Bureau’s essential work.
On January 31, 2025, the Acting Deputy Attorney General instructed the Acting FBI Director to terminate the FBI’s entire senior leadership team and the Assistant Director in charge of the Washington Field Office. Additionally, the FBI was ordered to compile lists of all current and former personnel who worked on investigations related to January 6, 2021, and a Hamas-related case—lists that will be used to determine whether those individuals should face additional personnel actions.
Put simply, Special Agents who risk their lives protecting this country from criminals and terrorists are now being placed on lists and having their careers jeopardized for carrying out the orders they were given by their superiors in the FBI. These actions, which lack transparency and due process, are creating dangerous distractions, imperiling ongoing investigations, and undermining the Bureau’s ability to work with state, local, and international partners to make America safe again.
Furthermore, these actions are wholly inconsistent with commitments made by the President, and his chosen leaders of the Department of Justice and the FBI to guide the Bureau in a non-political manner that prioritizes national security and supports ethical law enforcement officers. As Kash Patel, President Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, stated at his confirmation hearing, “no one will be terminated for case assignments” and “all FBI employees will be protected against political retribution.” The recent actions from the Acting Deputy Attorney General directly contradict these assurances.
The FBIAA is fully committed to working with new leadership at the Department of Justice and the FBI to uphold the Bureau’s mission and ensure accountability among FBI personnel. We agree with the call to strengthen the trust within the agency and with the American people. President Trump has nominated new leadership for the Department of Justice and the FBI and these officials should be the people making significant personnel decisions. In every case, any review of Special Agents should follow established disciplinary procedures that provide the necessary due process and transparency to our nation’s law enforcement officers.
On behalf of Judge Webster, FBIAA, FLEOA, and the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, we are requesting your assistance in ensuring that the men and women of the FBI can continue to effectively protect our country. We urge you to work with President Trump to prevent acting officials from taking personnel actions that undermine our shared goal of keeping the FBI out of politics. It is imperative that FBI Special Agents can continue their critical work, free from fear of retaliation, and focused on safeguarding our nation.
Sincerely,
Judge William Webster
Former Director of the FBI
Former Director of Central Intelligence
FBI Agents Association
Michael Clark
President, Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI
Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association
