The Trump administration implements radical changes in culture and politics by leaving a lot … (+)
Donald Trump, as promised, has not lost time to implement changes throughout the federal government. These changes have nowhere more dramatic than at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
For years, the BOP has fought against the chronic sub-system, the deterioration of infrastructure and frequent turnover. While the federal prison population went from a peak of more than 220,000 in 2013 to just over 150,000 today, the agency’s budget continued to grow. In 2024, the BOP operated with a budget of $ 8.3 billion – one of the largest in the Ministry of Justice – but continued to claim an additional funding need. As part of the Trump administration, such increases are unlikely. Even before the inauguration of Trump, the BOP announced the closure of seven penitentiary installations in December.
Currently, the BOP is without permanent director. Colette Peters resigned the first day of Trump’s power, leaving the acting director William Lathrop to manage the agency in the middle of a wave of fast changes. Lathrop and the US Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents many front -line BOP employees, had a short time to respond to current policy changes.
The “deferred resignation” raises concerns
One of the most important and controversial developments was the offer of the “deferred resignation” by the Trump administration at 2.3 million federal employees, including those of the BOP. This program offers eight months of dismissal to employees who choose to resign. This decision was faced with confusion, especially within the BOP, where staff shortages are already a critical problem.
When the employees asked for clarification, the staff management office (OPM) published a follow-up email on January 30, 2025, describing the details in a FAQ format:
Q: Do I have to work on my government job during the delayed resignation period?
A: No.
Q: Am I authorized to obtain a second job during the deferred resignation period?
A: Absolutely! We encourage you to find a job in the private sector as soon as you want to do so. The way to greater American prosperity is to encourage people to pass weaker productivity jobs in the public sector to higher productivity jobs in the private sector.
Q: Will I really get my salary and my benefits throughout the period until September 30, even if I get a second job?
A: Yes. You will also accumulate other days of personal leave, vacation days, etc. And will be paid for unused leave on your date of final resignation.
Q: Can I have a prolonged vacation on administrative leave?
A: You are welcome, stay at home and relax or to get to the destination of your dreams. Everything you want.
Many BOP employees have found these vague responses and lacking the usual government procedural directives. AFGE responded with a strong declaration condemning the policy, saying:
“The purge of the federal government of dedicated career officials will have vast involuntary consequences that will cause chaos for Americans who depend on a functional federal government. This offer should not be considered voluntary. Between the burst of anti-traveler decrees and policies, it is clear that the objective of the Trump administration is to transform the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot remain even if they wish. »»
The union has since submitted a prosecution contesting what it describes as an attempt to politicize the public service through decrees.
BOP employees to assume immigration application tasks
Adding to uncertainty on January 25, 2025, the acting prosecutor authorized agents of the application of the laws of the BOP to fulfill certain functions of application of immigration. These include the study, location and apprehension of undocumented people. The training for this new responsibility has not yet been scheduled, but many BOP employees – are already stretched due to the lack of staff – on how they balance this additional workload.
The BOP has been invited to participate in federal actions in the past. During the first Trump administration, the BOP special operations response team (spell), which generally manages prison unrest, was ordered to participate in the demonstration of the demonstration of Lafayette Park at the summer 2020 near the White House.
Disturbances of BOP policies and online resources
Changes within the BOP have extended beyond staff and responsibilities. The agency’s website, a critical resource for law professionals and families looking for detainees, has been considerably affected. A notification on the site is now read:
“Policy and form temporarily unavailable – This content is temporarily unavailable while we implement the executive decree on the” defense of women against the extremism of gender ideology and the restoration of biological truth to the federal government “.” »»
This unexpected abolition of policies has caused a widespread concern among lawyers, defense groups and BOP staff that rely on these directives for daily operations. The list of lawyers of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has been flooded with prosecutors in search of alternative means to access the essential policies of the BOP, but no calendar was provided for their return.
Alix McLelaren, a former BOP official who retired in September 2024 and is now consulting for prisonology, expressed profound concerns about the abolition of transgender policies:
“How terrifying it must be a federal prison person who identifies as transgender now. The abolition of appropriate diligence policy is dangerous and does not do much to defend women. It harms people while not benefiting anyone and does not leave the correctional staff without guidance. »»
The urgent need for leadership
Without permanent director in place, the BOP faces assembly challenges. Morale among staff – probably low before transition – has dropped more in uncertainty about employment safety, political upheavals and changing responsibilities. The appointment of a new director will be critical to stabilize the agency and respond to concerns between employees and the imprisoned population.
The candidate for the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, said that the implementation of the first step – a key law of the reform of criminal justice signed by Trump in 2018 – remains a priority. However, the administrative changes in progress can still delay the implementation of the law, which has already faced setbacks due to the lack of house space and other logistical problems.
Ahead
While the Trump administration is continuing its radical reforms, the BOP remains in a state of flow. With staff shortages, operational disruptions and assembly of legal challenges, the agency faces a difficult route to come. Confirmation of a new attorney general and director of the BOP in the coming weeks will be essential to determine the future orientation of the agency. Until then, uncertainty remains the only constant in the federal prisons.
