FBI counterintelligence squads cut as focus shifts to violent crime and immigration

Left · 1NPR reported on 6 October that FBI counterintelligence squads have been hit with deep cuts, a consequence of President Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel's focus on violent crime and immigration, leaving other priorities understaffed. 1 Left · 1In many of the bureau's 56 field offices, counterintelligence squads have only 50% to 60% of their positions filled, according to NPR, which cited five people familiar with the matter. In multiple offices the number of squads doing that work has been halved. 2 Left · 1The sources spoke anonymously because of the topic's sensitivity and fear of retribution. One said: "Threats are growing and we're facing it with less and less." 2

Left · 1According to the report, the cuts did not come from a specific order by Patel. Instead, bureau leaders made clear that resources must go to violent crime, gangs and illegal immigration, and field offices have pulled agents and analysts from counterintelligence and are not refilling vacancies. 2 Left · 1Patel's push to move analysts out of headquarters and into field offices added to the losses, with many counterintelligence analysts reassigned to violent crime and gangs, making it harder to open new investigations and make sense of evidence. 2 Left · 1Two people told NPR the bureau has lost more than 1,500 special agents since Trump returned to office and has more than 650 fewer agents than in January 2025. 2

Left · 1NPR also reported that Patel's leadership fired five special agents and a supervisor who worked on Iranian counterintelligence threats days before the administration launched its war on Iran, among several counterintelligence agents fired for having worked on investigations of Trump. 2 Left · 1The report places the cuts against a backdrop of the U.S. war with Iran, a Chinese campaign to steal secrets and technology, and aggressive Russian intelligence services; last month federal prosecutors charged five suspected Russian operatives with planning attacks in Europe and the U.S. 2 Left · 1An FBI spokesperson told NPR: "This is false—the FBI maintains a robust counterintelligence operation across the enterprise," saying counterintelligence task forces have expanded to more than 1,500 personnel including partner agency and state and local staff, and calling anonymous critics "disconnected from reality." 2

Left · 1Patel told Congress the FBI under him has arrested more spies from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea "than any FBI in history"; NPR said it could not independently verify that. 2