Changes in United States peculiar Services

Even before the presidency began, Donald Trump announced major changes in institutions liable for interior safety and intelligence. The FBI, the CIA, the NSA and the DEA were under scrutiny of the fresh administration. We are looking at who has taken key positions and what will be the precedence of these institutions.

Magda Grosz

Donald Trump's administration listed management in 4 key agencies: the FBI, the CIA, the NSA and the DEA, arguing this with the request to implement a fresh imagination and repair the negligence of predecessors. In each of these institutions, people were nominated with views aligned with the political agenda of the fresh president. At the same time, structural and personnel changes were initiated to adapt the agencies' objectives to the fresh US priorities.

FBI

Even before the inauguration, Donald Trump announced the cancellation of erstwhile FBI manager Christopher Wray, even though he had a statutory ten-year word (ending in 2027). It was in the face of this announcement that Wray announced his resignation with effect from the day the fresh president was sworn in.

As early as December 2024, Trump announced his appointment as FBI manager for his close associate Kash Patel. He is simply a 44-year-old lawyer with experience, among others, in the Justice Department and the Capitol, known as Trump's ardent supporter and critic of the erstwhile FBI leadership. In the past, he worked as a alleged public defender, national prosecutor and advisor to the Congressional intelligence committee, where he was celebrated for questioning the FBI's investigation into Russia's interference with the 2016 elections (he was co-author of the alleged Nunes memo challenging the grounds for the investigation). In the Trump administration, he held various functions, including at the National safety Council and as Chief of Staff of the Secretary of Defence. Patel officially took office on 20 February 2025 after the tumultuous legislature approval process by 51-49 votes (all Republicans in favour, all Democrats against). At the same time, as part of a wider exchange of leadership, Deputy manager of the FBI was appointed Dan Bongino, a erstwhile Secret Service agent and political commentator known for his right-wing media.

The fresh manager immediately after taking office announced a "comprehensive restructuring" of the office, claiming that the FBI had become "committed" politically and required profound changes. Patel publically announced the settlement of those liable for, in his opinion, the abuse of power against Trump and the Conservatives, suggesting, among others, the "cleaning" of the highest levels of the FBI from the people active in the Russiagate investigation and those concerning the "storm on Capitol" of 6 January 2021. According to the material presented by Senator Dick Durbin (Illinois) as early as the first days after the change of management, there were mass resignations and layoffs at the FBI office – a group of high-ranking agents (Executive Assistant Directors and another department heads) were informed straight that they were to leave or be released. The Director’s Advisory Team, according to the FBI's signaling relationship, has drawn up a list of the names of the individuals “on the target” of Patel. Senator Durbin accused him of personally directing "political purity in the FBI" and demanded an investigation into the case, considering specified actions as an unprecedented threat to the office's independence.

The fresh priorities of the FBI under Patel focus on law enforcement in accordance with Trump's agenda. In practice, this means shifting resources towards the fight against street crime, gangs and drug trafficking and illegal immigration, as Patel describes as "the end of the crime epidemic, the break-up of immigrant gangs and the stopping of trafficking in human beings and drugs at the border". These are crucial changes due to the fact that during the erstwhile administration more emphasis was placed on combating national extremism (e.g. the far right) and economical crimes, or alleged white collars.

Reactions to changes in the FBI are powerfully divided along organization lines. Republican politicians defend Patel – for example Senator Tom Cotton argued in the media that the FBI must "return to its roots" and overcome the bureaucracy and the politicization they were about to sneak into the agency for Joe Biden's presidency. In his opinion, "the nation needs a strong, efficient and aggressive FBI", and Patel as a tough prosecutor and authoritative "has the qualifications to implement this vision".

In the context, leading Democrats express deep concern about the state of the ministry. The aforementioned Senator Dick Durbin, vice-chair of the Judicial Commission, in a speech in the legislature forum called Patel a dangerous candidate, pointing to his instinct for political retaliation and threats against Trump's opponents. Durbin revealed a relation with the FBI suggesting that Patel had interfered with the Bureau's staff cases before his swearing in, as he described as absolutely unacceptable and possibly "the basis for the perjury charge if Patel kept it from the senate".

Patel, asked by Senators about the changes being made, said, “I want to focus the FBI on missions and remove political disputes.”

CIA

As appointed by Joe Biden, CIA manager William J. Burns besides resigned himself in connection with a change of administration. His successor was John Ratcliffe, a erstwhile Texas congressman who, at the end of Donald Trump's erstwhile term, was manager of national intelligence (Director of National Intelligence, DNI). Ratcliffe is considered a close right-wing advocate – in legislature he was celebrated as 1 of the most conservative members of the home of Representatives and a fierce defender of the president during his first impeachment trial and investigations into Russiagate. In 2019, Trump attempted to appoint him as Chief of Intelligence (DNI), but the nomination fell due to concerns about Ratcliffe's deficiency of experience. yet in 2020, erstwhile the Republicans controlled the Senate, Ratcliffe was approved as DNI, despite the deficiency of support for the Democrats. As manager of National Intelligence, he has repeatedly commented on the risks associated with the activities of the People's Republic of China.

Ratcliffe is the first individual in past to lead both the full intelligence community (as DNI) and the CIA itself. His bio shows that he has legal education and experience as a national prosecutor, but he has never served in the CIA before or worked straight in intelligence operations. During his proceeding before the Senate, Ratcliffe portrayed himself primarily as a competent manager and promised to keep politics distant from the CIA.

He said, “We will never let political or individual prejudice cloud our analytical judgements.”

He besides stressed that he intended to focus on the agency's mission: "We will collect interviews – especially individual interviews – in all corner of the world, no substance how hard it may be."

At the same time, he addressed CIA staff with an different message: “If this sounds like what you have applied for, fasten your seat belts and be ready to make a difference. If not, it is time to look for another job.”

According to national media, this message was received as an ultimatum for CIA staff – it sparked mixed reactions: any officers felt motivated by a clear call for action, but others were afraid by a confrontational speech suggesting a deficiency of tolerance for different opinions within the agency.

Under the leadership of John Ratcliffe, the CIA is to focus on respective key areas consistent with president Trump's priorities. The first is the rivalry of the powers with peculiar emphasis on China. Ratcliffe's predecessor, manager Burns, has already diverted crucial resources from the agency to collecting intelligence on China's activities. Ratcliffe announced further strengthening this direction – both in terms of intelligence and cyber designation and economical analysis. He besides declared a more circumstantial approach to secret operations. According to Washingtonpost.com, he was going to say in this context about “entering where no 1 else can enter, and doing what no 1 else can do”, which is interpreted as being ready for brave, unconventional intelligence missions.

The second key precedence of the CIA was the fight against global drug trafficking (especially synthetic opioids specified as fentanyl), linked to the activities of abroad cartels and criminal organizations. In relation to the opioid crisis, Trump announced the "all hands on deck" approach, including intelligence agencies to support law enforcement activities. Ratcliffe confirmed that the CIA would channel more analytical and operational resources against drug cartels (including Mexican cartels), liaising with DEA and DHS. This has led to different initiatives – the CIA is gathering more information about the links between politicians and abroad officials and drug mafias than always before. Importantly, already in 2020 Terrence Cole (now nominated DEA chief) was active in an operation that led to the prosecution of Gen. Garcia Luna, erstwhile Mexico safety minister, for drug corruption. In Mexico, however, this has been perceived as violating the sovereignty of this country and “interrupting in interior affairs”.

It is worth noting that Republican organization politicians are peculiarly pleased with Ratcliffe's appointment as head of the agency. Senator Tom Cotton (Arkansas), presently president of the legislature Intelligence Commission, stated at the proceeding that "CIA must overcome a number of challenges and return to its roots," suggesting that the agency fell into bureaucratic stagnation under the Democratic regulation and wrongly set priorities. Cotton estimated that "the country needs a strong, efficient and aggressive CIA". Interestingly, most Democrats besides voted for Ratcliffe. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, leader of the politician committee, admitted that the CIA is facing an unprecedented number of challenges – he mentioned, among others, the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, the rivalry with China and the continuing threat of terrorism.

As the media in the United States reported, mixed emotions be in the environment of erstwhile CIA officers and experts.

Some appreciate that Ratcliffe, although a politician, is rapidly learning the mechanisms of the intelligence community. As a erstwhile head of the DNI, he knows the procedures for coordinating services and has already worked with CIA personnel, which may aid in managing the agency.

NSA

The shuffling has already taken place in the NSA – an agency liable for electronic intelligence and cybersecurity.

Even before the inauguration, it was speculated that Trump intended to cancel the denomination of the erstwhile administration, Gen. Timothy Haugh, who took command of the NSA and Cyber Command in the summertime of 2024 after a long-standing chief, Gen. Paul Nakasone. Haugh was seen as a continuationist of Nakasone's strategy (focused, among others, on defence against cyber threats from Russia and China and cooperation with allies). In April 2025 president Trump actually made an unprecedented change – at the same time he fired Gen. Haugh and his deputy Wendy Noble. This abrupt decision has shaken the environment of national security. erstwhile head of NSA Gen. Paul Nakasone publically expressed his concern, saying that "any removal of leader number 1 and 2 at the same time must origin interference [in the agency's work]".

He stressed that Haugh and Noble were just “exceptional leaders” and that it was naturally the President's right to decide the cast, but the consequence would be to disorganize crucial operations. For the vacancy, the defence minister (in the Trump administration, erstwhile Fox News commentator Pete Hegseth) entrusted the interim NSA leadership to General William Hartman. Hartman, a three-star army general, became a p.o. manager of the NSA and besides a p.o. commander of Cyber Command. According to Nakasone Hartman, he is simply a “competent officer in highest form” so he will immediately guarantee continuity of operations.

"If Donald Trump decides to officially separate the functions of NSA manager and Cybercom commander, there will be a powerful reorganization: a fresh chain of command will should be established, a more detailed distribution of resources and competences, and possibly a civilian manager of NSA (not necessarily military), which could be an chance to nominate another loyal person," US analysts note in the national media. According to forecasts, General Hartman may be promoted and nominated as a full-fledged chief (perhaps Cyber Command), and in parallel, a candidate for manager of the NSA itself would be wanted if there was a separation. Eventually, the administration is expected to fill these positions with people with a akin profile as Patel or Ratcliffe, i.e. prone to direct implementation of the White home guidelines.

Against this background, there is simply a debate about the future of the NSA and Cyber Command structures. Since 2010, both institutions have a common head (the alleged dual-hat array) to guarantee consistency of activities in cyberspace. Already at the end of 2020, Donald Trump considered separating these functions, but it was blocked by the then head of General Mark Milley's college of chiefs of staff. Now, in 2025, the subject returned. Advisors around Trump have developed a plan to formally separate NSA from Cyber Command.

The exchange of command at the NSA summit took place rather rapidly, so the agency's strategy is inactive coming to light. However, the precedence is to intensify electronic intelligence against the main rivals of the US: China, Russia, as well as Iran and Korea.

DEA

President Donald Trump's administration besides listed the leadership of the DEA – a national agency liable for enforcing drug laws. The erstwhile head of the DEA Anne Milgram (nominated Joe Biden) resigned. In February 2025 Trump pointed to this position of Terrance “Terry” Cole, who inactive should be officially approved by the senate. Cole is simply a character little known to the public, but with extended experience in DEA structures. He spent more than 22 years as a DEA agent, stroking at levels – from field work (Oklahoma, fresh York, Texas) to office executive positions, he was among others a typical of the DEA at the National safety Council and a regional manager of the DEA at Mexico, Canada and Central America. He finished his service in 2020 and then switched to the private sector. In turn, in 2023 he took up state office – he became Secretary of Public safety and Homeland safety of the state of Virginia. Cole, being a advanced administrative authoritative of politician Glenn Youngkin, drew the attention of Donald Trump's men. politician Youngkin publically praised the nomination, stating, "It is simply a large choice – Terry will guarantee America's safety, as he did for Virginia."

On 30 April, he was already interviewed before the legislature Judiciary Commission. Senators – both Republicans and Democrats – focused on asking him about key issues of drug policy. The fentanyl crisis was, of course, a priority. Cole confirmed that besides in his opinion "the DEA's top challenge is to flood fentanyl and synthetic opioids across the border". He besides admitted that he intended to work closely with the Mexican authorities, but is at the same time a supporter of a hard line towards Mexican officials associated with cartels. This attitude is controversial due to the fact that it can exacerbate diplomatic tensions. The legislature confirmed Cole's nomination by a majority (here besides any Democrats supported the candidate due to his professional experience despite his policy objections) – the position took place in May 2025.

The DEA under Terry Cole will prosecute a drug strategy closely correlated with president Donald Trump's priorities. The main nonsubjective is to reduce the influx of fentanyl and another synthetics to the US, which is simply a consequence to the dramatic increase in overdose deaths in fresh years. Trump repeatedly blamed China (source of chemical precursors) and Mexico (where fentanyl is mass produced) for this situation. Cole announced an intensification of the global activities of the DEA: he puts force on Canada, China and Mexico to do more to halt the smuggling of these substances.