President Donald Trump promised to usher in a new era at America’s top investigative unit — the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) — with the first changes being implemented as key senior roles were reassigned.
The upheaval at the agency began when former FBI Director Christopher Wray, who was nominated by Trump in his first administration, announced last month that he would step down. Hours before Trump was sworn in, Acting Director Paul Abbate similarly resigned.
The Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the matter, that the longtime head of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Bruce Swartz, has been moved along with as many as 20 other employees.
On Monday, the White House named Brian Discoll as acting director of the FBI. Driscoll’s time as acting principal will likely end when Kashyap “Kash” Patel The US Senate has confirmed him as the next director of the FBI.
During former President Biden’s tenure, the FBI was embroiled in repeated scandals, prompting President Trump to vow to root out corruption in the FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
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FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks at the farewell ceremony for Attorney General Merrick Garland at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC on January 16, 2025. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Former FBI agent and Fox News contributor Nicole Parker told Fox News Digital that Abbate’s retirement was “a good idea.”
“He had to know his days were probably numbered,” she said. “It is widely reported and well known that Paul Abbate was involved in the suppression attack on Mar-a-Lago. Also, he was very involved in the instigation of the January 6 misdemeanor cases that the FBI worked rigorously on.”
“I guess he knew, rather than being removed upon Trump’s arrival, that it would be in his best interest to just move on. And I think that was probably a good idea on his part,” she said.
FBI Seal at a press conference at FBI headquarters in Washington DC (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, file)
On the first day, President Trump signed a memorandum titled “Restoring responsibility for senior career managers.He asserted that federal employees can be fired.
“I came from the private sector before the FBI, and I noticed such a contrast. The private sector, if you don’t do your job, of course you’re going to get fired. But when you get into the federal government, there was almost this mood, you know, we’re untouchable, Parker said.
“And I really believe those days are over. You work for the American taxpayer. Their taxpayer dollars should be put to good use. And if you’re not doing your job, you really should be removed,” she said. “I believe there will be people who may not be included with Trump’s plansand they will decide to leave on their own.”
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President Trump nominated Brian Driscoll as Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Monday, January 20, 2025. (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) )
President-elect Donald Trump has named longtime ally Kashyap “Kash” Patel, who has been a frequent and harsh critic of the FBI, as the next director of the bureau in the new administration. (Reuters)
Discroll now leads the agency while Patel begins the Senate confirmation process. Patel’s Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, January 29.
TRUMP NAMES BRIAN DRISCOLL ACTING FBI DIRECTOR AFTER ABBATE’S SUDDEN RETIREMENT
Discroll, an agency veteran, joined in 2007, according to a statement on the White House website. Robert Kissane, the top counterterrorism agent in New York, will serve as acting deputy director, the White House said.
WATCH:
Prior to being named acting director, Discroll most recently served as special agent in charge of the Newark field office. He also previously served as Commander of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) and Chief of the Tactical Division of the Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG).
“I think it’s good for the FBI, for someone who has such an incredible background with tactical experience and HRT,” retired FBI agent Scott Duffey told Fox News Digital. “It’s a tough task and I wish him all the best.”
Prior to his career with the FBI, he was a special agent in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the agency said in a statement. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Villanova University and a master’s degree in public policy and international relations from Pepperdine University.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the FBI and the Justice Department for comment.
Fox News’ Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.
