The Trump administration has already fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Army Chief of Staff Randy George.. Now, media reports suggest that this layoff may only be the tip of the iceberg, with more layoffs to come. Among those reportedly at risk is the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel.
According to The Atlantic, citing several people familiar with the White House’s plans, there are discussions about the departure of several top officials from the Trump administration. Names mentioned include FBI Director Patel, Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll and Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
The report said the timing of those departures remains uncertain because “President Trump has not yet made a decision.” It added that the discussions mark a shift from Trump’s earlier reluctance to touch any of his top aides.
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For the past several months, an edict has been in place barring the removal of any Cabinet officials before the US midterms (scheduled for November), although a series of layoffs was planned after Election Day, The Atlantic reported.
However, falling support amid the US-Israeli war with Iran is likely to have changed the political calculus, and more layoffs could precede November’s key polls.
Bondi was fired for her handling of files on disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. However, Trump’s post on Truth Social did not mention the matter and instead presented it as her resignation.
However, CNN reported that the US president was frustrated with Bondi on multiple fronts, including her handling of the Epstein files, and was angry that the attorney general was not sufficiently investigating or prosecuting his political opponents.
Meanwhile, Noem was fired due to “the culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures, including the fallout in Minnesota, the ad campaign, allegations of infidelity, mismanagement of her staff and her ongoing disputes with the heads of other agencies, including CBP and ICE,” according to Trump administration officials.
Patel and others on shaky ground?
FBI Director Patel, who arrived in office promising a radical overhaul, instead presided over an agency described as “internally paralyzed by fear” in December 2025.
In a scathing 115-page report compiled by a national alliance of retired and active FBI special agents and analysts, Patel was described as “in over his head,” with organization insiders describing the FBI as a “rudderless ship.”
Patel’s professional concerns aside, the FBI director also faced immense public ire during his tenure for allegedly using a taxpayer-funded government jet for personal travel to watch his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, perform at wrestling events. In a move that outraged watchdogs, he also reportedly deployed elite FBI SWAT agents to provide her personal security at public appearances.
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Meanwhile, Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s tenure has descended into a widening misconduct scandal, with the labor secretary now the subject of a formal investigation by the Labor Department’s inspector general over allegations of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a subordinate on a security detail. The sprawling complaint also accuses her of blatant misuse of taxpayer funds, including a “travel scam” to visit family and friends, using DOL funds to throw a birthday party disguised as a swearing-in ceremony and taking employees to a strip club in Portland on taxpayer money.
There have also been claims of workplace drinking, with reports suggesting a stash of alcohol was found in her office. Her husband, Shawn DeRemer, has been banned from Labor Department headquarters for her political plight after at least two female employees accused him of sexual assault.
Although not as explosive as the Chavez-DeRemer controversy, Army Secretary Driscoll faced his own turmoil when he drew heavy criticism for his role in the highly controversial deployment of National Guard troops across the United States. While Driscoll emerged as Trump’s point person for Russia-Ukraine talks last year, his resume — an investment banker with a degree in business administration — suggests he may not be a good fit for defense.
