Former Officials Accuse Kash Patel of Politically Motivated FBI Purge

A group of former FBI, intelligence, and national security officials is accusing FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino of orchestrating a politically motivated purge inside the bureau.

In a letter released over the weekend, the self-described “Steady State” group blasted Patel for firing several high-ranking FBI agents including former Acting Director Brian Driscoll, Special Agent Walter Giardina, and Agent Michael Feinberg allegedly because they weren’t personally loyal to President Donald Trump.

“It is not about reform. It is about control,” the letter states. “The aim, it seems, is to transform the FBI from a respected, constitutionally grounded investigative service into a personal enforcement arm of a political figure… We have seen these dynamics abroad… These regimes do not end well.”

The group’s criticism centers on the claim that Patel and Bongino were appointed despite lacking the “basic standards” to lead the bureau, and that the firings undermine the FBI’s long-standing independence.

Key developments in the controversy:

• Patel’s dismissal letter to Giardina cited “poor judgment and a lack of impartiality,” accusing him of contributing to the political weaponization of the government.

• Driscoll had served as acting FBI director prior to Patel’s confirmation; Giardina had worked on the investigation into former Trump adviser Peter Navarro.

• Steve Jensen, the acting head of the Washington Field Office who played a role in January 6 investigations, was also let go.

Critics see the moves as retaliation against agents tied to high-profile investigations involving Trump. Former FBI agent Phil Kennedy labeled the shakeup a “Bureau bloodbath” and claimed Giardina was part of “the disgraced anti-Trump” faction.

The firings follow a February order requiring thousands of FBI employees to complete a questionnaire about any role they had in the January 6 probe a move that alarmed many inside the bureau. Later that month, then–Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove reportedly instructed the FBI to compile a list of all personnel who worked on January 6 cases, further fueling fears of political targeting.

Neither the FBI nor Patel and Bongino have publicly addressed the Steady State’s allegations. The Trump administration has also remained quiet on whether more dismissals are coming, though the president has said he believes the bureau is “corrupt” and expressed confidence Patel would “straighten it out.”

With the FBI already under scrutiny for its handling of politically sensitive investigations, the allegations of a loyalty-driven purge could deepen divisions inside the agency and intensify the political firestorm surrounding its leadership.

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