With President-elect Donald Trump set to return to office, employees within the Biden-Harris Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI are reportedly bracing for significant changes. Rumors of extensive firings and reforms are circulating, sending federal bureaucrats scrambling to update their résumés amid what one source describes as a “shell-shocked” atmosphere. These employees may have good reason to worry, as Trump has been vocal about his mission to “shatter the Deep State and restore government that is controlled by the People.”
A Plan for Accountability
Back in March 2023, Trump pledged that on his first day back in office, he would reissue his 2020 executive order on Schedule F employment. This measure would streamline the removal of insubordinate or underperforming federal employees, affecting a pool of roughly 50,000 candidates. “I will wield that power aggressively,” Trump vowed, highlighting his commitment to revamp federal staffing.
After assuming office in January 2021, President Joe Biden revoked Trump’s Schedule F order. He introduced a rule this year to further insulate federal employees from such measures. Reversing this new rule could take time, but Trump has made it clear that he intends to ensure that the nation’s president retains authority over this crucial group of public servants.
“They’re getting the hell out of dodge.” — Steve Baker
Commitment to Cleaning Out Corruption
Trump’s ambitions extend to a 10-point agenda, targeting alleged misconduct in the national security and intelligence sectors. “The departments and agencies that have been weaponized will be completely overhauled,” Trump stated, pledging that “faceless bureaucrats will never again be able to target and persecute conservatives, Christians, or the left’s political enemies, which they’re doing now at a level that nobody can believe even possible.”
To support this initiative, Trump has enlisted Elon Musk for a federal efficiency task force, which could lend momentum to changes within the DOJ and FBI. As Steve Baker, an investigative journalist at Blaze News, observed, federal employees have good reason to worry about a reshuffling. “These guys are already planning their exits,” Baker noted. “They know that their days are numbered. They are looking for their golden parachutes into the big, high-power law firms. They’re getting the hell out of dodge.”
Sources within the FBI echo this sentiment. Recent reports indicate that agency leadership was “stunned” by the results of the election, with high-ranking officials speculating about Trump’s potential impact. An insider suggested that supervisory special agents, especially those at pay grade GS-14 or higher, may not be immune from the upheaval. “It’s a countdown for Wray because [people here] don’t think he will stay to get fired after what Trump did to Comey,” said one source, adding, “Trump will say, ‘Yeah, fire his ass. Don’t let him take the plane home.’”
Efficiency Mandate Could Change FBI Operations
Elon Musk’s potential involvement has also raised eyebrows among FBI employees, who fear an impending efficiency drive might streamline departments to the point of downsizing. As one insider put it, “When [Musk] tries to do efficiency at headquarters, the place is going to have five people.” The source added, “If you’re going to try to make the government efficient, you would start with the FBI, because if you do politics all the time, you’re probably bloated.”
Notably, some agents are reportedly amused by the idea of Trump issuing pardons for nonviolent Jan. 6 defendants, potentially undoing many cases they’ve worked on. Blaze’s Baker, currently facing his own Jan. 6-related misdemeanor charges, emphasized the financial toll these cases are taking, noting that “they are going forward with the process no matter what, when they should be hitting the pause button.” According to Baker, Trump could signal his intentions by publicly discouraging DOJ efforts, telling them, You’re wasting your time. You’re wasting the people’s money.
DOJ and FBI Staff Brace for Impact
In the meantime, FBI personnel are preparing for potential departures. “You know the fit test? How they let the standards slack on the fit test?” one source quipped, highlighting concerns over readiness. “Everyone’s going to have a real problem when they’re running for the door.”
When asked about the impending personnel changes, Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt indicated that decisions regarding new DOJ and FBI leadership would be announced as they’re finalized. As for Musk’s anticipated role, Leavitt noted, “Elon Musk is a once-in-a-generation business leader, and our federal bureaucracy will certainly benefit from his ideas and efficiency.”
With Trump poised to take office, a new era of oversight and efficiency appears on the horizon for the DOJ, FBI, and other federal agencies. The question remains: who will still be standing once the reforms take effect?
