As the Trump Administration Slashes Law Enforcement Funding & Fires National Security Agents, Booker, Colleagues Write Patel, Bondi About the Impact on Public Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ahead of the hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), and Chris Coons (D-DE) wrote Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi raising concerns about the risk to public safety as a result of "this Administration's sweeping staff cuts, personnel reassignments, and supposed restructuring across federal law enforcement agencies."

In the letter, the senators cited recent reports of major personnel cuts and reassignments, including the transfer of agents away from counter-terrorism and cybersecurity units; dramatic budget cuts to law enforcement agencies overseeing drug and firearms trafficking; and efforts to test personnel on their personal political preferences.

"It defies credulity to believe that, amidst these cuts, policy changes, and overall turmoil, our law enforcement agencies' ability to protect our country has not been impacted," the senators wrote.

To read the full text of the letter, click here.