Overview
- Bloomberg Law reported that Patel has directed cuts to the Office of the General Counsel, asking the unit to reduce staff by about 25% and pressing lawyers toward early retirement.
- General Counsel Samuel Ramer has demoted a senior deputy who oversaw litigation as the office implements personnel changes.
- Former agents and observers say OGC lawyers serve as an inside legal check that helps keep FBI investigations within rules and that reducing that staff would weaken oversight.
- The personnel moves mirror Project 2025 recommendations to transfer OGC functions to DOJ lawyers, a change that would move legal review out of the bureau and alter decision pathways for investigations.
- The FBI publicly denied any souring between Patel and OGC leadership and Patel has denied prior misconduct allegations while filing lawsuits against some media critics.