WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI and Justice Department are scrambling to rebuild a depleted workforce after a wave of departures over the last year. In response, leaders are easing hiring requirements and accelerating recruitment in ways that some current and former officials see as a lowering of long-accepted standards. The FBI has turned to social media campaigns to attract applicants, while also condensing training for candidates from other federal agencies and relaxing internal requirements for support staff seeking to be agents. The Justice Department has opened the door to hiring prosecutors right out of law school to help fill vacancies in U.S. attorney’s offices.
FBI & Justice Department Scramble To Rebuild
April 19, 2026 8:30 am