President Donald Trump’s shake-up of senior administration officials might extend beyond the Justice Department. FBI Director Kash Patel is now part of discussions about potential departures, according to a new report released after the removal of Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The Atlantic reported that Patel is one of several officials whose exits are being considered. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer are also on the list. Reuters, citing The Atlantic, stated that no final decisions have been made, and the timing of any additional departures remains unclear.
The report emerged less than a day after Trump announced Bondi’s exit as attorney general and that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche would serve as acting attorney general. Reuters reported that Bondi’s dismissal followed months of frustration within the White House.
There was anger over her handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein and dissatisfaction with the pace and direction of some politically charged investigations.
BREAKING:
President Trump may soon fire Kash Patel, says former FBI agent Kyle Seraphin. pic.twitter.com/LUCN61nb1U
— Globe Observer (@_GlobeObserver) April 2, 2026
Trump described Bondi in a statement on Truth Social as “a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend” and said Blanche would take over in the interim. The Associated Press reported that Bondi’s departure followed a 14-month term that saw the Justice Department reshaped around Trump’s priorities. This included the removal of career officials and moves targeting perceived political enemies.
Patel’s inclusion in these discussions adds to uncertainty regarding the leadership of federal law enforcement. A long-time Trump ally, Patel took over at the FBI after the president returned to office and has been one of the administration’s most closely watched officials.
Reuters did not independently confirm The Atlantic’s report but noted that Patel’s name had come up in conversations about possible departures within the administration.
The White House has not publicly announced any changes involving Patel. There was also no public statement Friday indicating that Driscoll or Chavez-DeRemer would leave their positions. Still, the new report suggests a possible expansion of the personnel turmoil that has already affected Trump’s Cabinet in recent days.
Miller: What President Trump is doing is a national miracle that will be studied not only for generations but for centuries to come.
Trump: Kash, see if you can top that.
Patel: Mr. President, thank you for delivering the safest country on God’s green Earth pic.twitter.com/G8HTyAcVd8
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 23, 2026
Bondi’s ouster was the second major personnel change in a short time. Reuters reported that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had also been pushed out recently, indicating that Trump is willing to remove even high-profile loyalists as he seeks tighter control across his administration. T
The Associated Press noted that Bondi’s exit renewed interest in who might become Trump’s permanent choice to lead the Justice Department, with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin mentioned as a possible candidate.
Blanche, who previously served as one of Trump’s personal attorneys, quickly moved to defend Bondi after taking over. The New York Post reported that Blanche stated claims that Bondi was forced out over the Epstein files were “simply not true.” However, Reuters and AP both reported that her handling of the matter had drawn increasing criticism inside and outside the administration.
For now, Patel remains FBI director, and no additional departures have been officially announced. However, with Bondi gone and new talks about other officials underway, the latest report suggests Trump’s latest purge may not be over.
