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January 5: Changes to FBI Recruiting

In 2025 @FBI had a huge year for recruiting - bringing in more and more Americans every day committed to defending the homeland and making America safer than ever before.

-For Special Agents: we developed the “Advanced Special Agent Training…

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) January 5, 2026

January 5: Changes to FBI Recruiting

In 2025 the FBI had a huge year for recruiting - bringing in more and more Americans every day committed to defending the homeland and making America safer than ever before.

-For Special Agents: we developed the “Advanced Special Agent Training Program” (ASAT) for federal agents from other agencies who want to expand their impact by becoming FBI Special Agents, as well as for retired FBI Special Agents choosing to return to service - all huge for getting the right people in to restore trust and deliver results.

-In FY25, FBI received nearly 45,000 Special Agent applications, this was a 99% increase of last 15 years

-The ASAT program also helped streamline hiring and accelerate FBI training for current GS-1811 and DS-2501 Federal Agents. The first group of ASAT Agents are scheduled to graduate from the 9-week accelerated FBI training in March 2026 - oftentimes relocating to the field to serve locally.

-We’re also growing our Intelligence Analyst and professional staff ranks - receiving nearly 30,000 professional applications and over 3,000 Intel applications alone. These staff are critical to everything we do.

-We expanded the Reserve Service Program for retired FBI Special Agents who want to return to work as experienced criminal investigators in field offices across the United States. These RSP-Special Agents will fill critical field office needs with experienced investigators - the first group will begin their assignments in January 2026.

This is largely why you’re seeing record results - we are bringing in the hardworking frontline people to deliver. 100% increase in arrests, 35% espionage arrest increase, 6,000+ child victims located, 30+% increase in fentanyl seizures, +490% NVE arrests - none of it is an accident. Letting good law enforcement do their jobs saves American lives.