Trump Fires Former Acting FBI Director Who Stonewalled Admin Over J6
President Donald Trump has dismissed three high-level FBI officials, including former Acting Director Brian Driscoll, in a move widely seen as part of a broader effort to clean house following resistance to his administration’s oversight of the January 6th investigations.
Driscoll, who briefly served as acting director, reportedly refused to comply with an internal directive from then–Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove to compile a list of all current and former FBI agents who had worked on January 6th-related cases. According to multiple reports, Driscoll’s dismissal is directly tied to that refusal.
Brian Driscoll, the former acting FBI director who refused to carry out Trump administration plans for mass firing of J6 agents, is being forced out of the bureau, according to a source directly familiar.
— Ken Dilanian (@DilanianMSNBC) August 7, 2025
A message circulated by Driscoll to his former colleagues suggested he was caught off guard by the decision: “Last night I was informed that tomorrow will be my last day in the FBI. 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… I regret nothing. You are my heroes, and I remain in your debt.”
Drizz sent a message to colleagues:
“Last night I was informed that tomorrow will be my last day in the FBI. 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.
Please know that it… https://t.co/84tjMOADLy— Ken Dilanian (@DilanianMSNBC) August 7, 2025
Two other senior FBI officials were also terminated: Walter Giardina, who had been involved in the controversial case against former Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro, and Steve Jensen, the acting head of the Washington Field Office, who played a central role in the January 6th investigations.
While legacy media figures are already labeling the dismissals a “purge,” Trump allies argue the firings were long overdue and reflect a needed correction after years of partisan abuse inside the FBI. Supporters point to mounting concerns over how the Bureau handled politically sensitive cases, particularly during the Biden administration, when whistleblowers came forward with allegations of bias and internal censorship.
FBI leadership, under Director Kash Patel, has not publicly commented on the specific rationale for each dismissal, but under federal law, senior personnel serve at the discretion of the director and the president. Sources close to the administration say that anyone who obstructed accountability or defied lawful orders — particularly surrounding the weaponization of the January 6th cases — will be shown the door.
The firings come as the Trump administration continues an aggressive campaign to restore trust in federal law enforcement by rooting out what it views as entrenched political activism in the intelligence community. With the Bureau under new management and more transparency demanded by Republican lawmakers, further shakeups appear likely in the months ahead.