The Justice Department removed top national security officials as part of a widespread purge of senior career leaders across the law enforcement agency, the Washington Post reports.  The transferring of at least three national security officials amounts to a complete gutting of leadership in the highly sensitive National Security Division, which is charged with working with the FBI and other intelligence agencies to protect the nation from threats. The officials were technically not fired, with at least some of them being transferred to other parts of the Justice Department in less desirable positions. The officials must decide if they will accept those new assignments or resign. The removal reflect the Trump administration’s effort to push out experienced career officials from nonpartisan roles at the Justice Department, likely paving the way for President Trump to install people in these traditionally nonpartisan positions who align ideologically with the president.
Dozens of senior career officials in the civil rights, executive office for immigration review, the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington, D.C., public integrity section and more have been removed or transferred during the Trump administration. The national security officials had decades of experience across multiple Republican and Democratic administrations, leaving a vacuum of experience in the division. Melissa MacTough, who headed the office of intelligence, and Brad Wiegmann, who headed the law and policy section for the division, were among those ousted. Scott Damelin, the executive officer of the national security division, was also removed.