Trump’s FBI Purges Could Reduce Danger Posed by the Bureau—or Make It His Weapon
As the Trump administration enacts its agenda, two priorities—one bad and the other good—come into conflict. President Donald Trump and his supporters have threatened to punish political enemies who, they believe, used the mechanisms of government to target them. But they’ve also acted to shrink the state. To the extent that efforts to defang intelligence and enforcement agencies like the FBI precede and prevail over attempts at retribution, such vindictiveness will be less possible. That would reduce the danger of the government in the hands of the current president and those to come.
Threats Against Political Enemies
When he was running to return to the White House, Trump threatened to “go after” then-President Joe Biden and his family with a special prosecutor. He also said members of Congress who investigated the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot “should go to jail.” He told a crowd that his main opponent in the presidential race, Kamala Harris, “should be impeached and prosecuted.” He has a nasty habit of threatening to punish opponents, even if he later hedges his comments with promises that “retribution will be through success” in helping the country.
To be fair, Trump himself faced investigations and prosecutions that looked like political hit jobs. In June 2023, 62 percent of respondents to a Quinnipiac University poll thought the Department of Justice’s case against Trump was politically motivated. A year later, 57 percent of those polled by Monmouth University believed the same about the New York “hush money” trial in which he was convicted. But that’s a legacy to repudiate and end, not perpetuate.
But along with seething at enemies, Trump has promised “to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” And among the agencies targeted by this administration is one of the more dangerous to our liberty: the FBI.
Defanging an FBI With a Troubled History
“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,” complains the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) in a letter to Congress. The letter goes on to object that bureau personnel are “having their careers jeopardized for carrying out the orders they were given by their superiors in the FBI.”
This came after
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
