Kash Patel To Tulsi Gabbard: Who Could Be Next On Trump's Firing List?

US President Donald Trump has ousted Attorney General Pam Bondi in a major shake-up that marked the second Cabinet departure in less than a month, signalling a renewed willingness to move quickly on the team roles that had troubled him for months. The departure of America's chief law enforcement officer ended her tumultuous tenure marked by controversy over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case files and frustration over her performance. 

"Pam Bondi is a great American patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year," Trump said in a Truth Social post announcing her exit. He added that Bondi would transition "to a much-needed and important new job in the private sector."

Quoting sources, a CNN report claimed that the president had grown "increasingly impatient" with the pace of the probe into his adversaries, including former FBI Director James Comey and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff. Prosecutors have reportedly warned internally that some of the cases lacked sufficient evidence, but Trump's pressure campaign has continued.

But Bondi's exit, which followed the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last month, is unlikely to be the last from Team Trump. Reports have claimed that Trump has expressed frustration and disappointment with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and even his press secretary Karoline Leavitt, pointing to additional changes to his cabinet.

Fragile Makeup Of Team Trump

Trump's first term in the White House was also defined by constant Cabinet changes, with national security advisers clashing openly and press secretaries being removed within months. According to a Newsweek report, while Trump prepared for his second term, aides spoke privately about avoiding that chaos. 

The second administration would be different, they reportedly suggested-- a promise that lasted until March. Two quick departures within a month have shattered expectations of a disciplined, stable Cabinet, raising questions about who comes next.

As per the Newsweek report, prediction markets like Kalshi show Gabbard sits at a 78 per cent probability of remaining through year's end, while Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel are both at 71 per cent.

People On The Edge Of Trump's Sword

AFP

While such platforms track sentiment among political bettors, their appearance in headlines signals broader concern within the administration, and both Gabbard and Patel are at the centre of those worries. According to The Guardian, Trump is frustrated with his intelligence chief over her refusal to condemn Joe Kent, her former deputy, who resigned after arguing Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. The president has reportedly asked cabinet members in recent weeks whether he should replace Gabbard.

There are also discussions about ​Patel, Chavez-DeRemer and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll leaving ⁠the Trump ​administration, the ​Atlantic reported, citing people familiar ​with White ​House plans.

Patel has been surrounded by controversies, both self-inflicted and external. Recently, an Iran-backed hacker group leaked his decade's worth of personal and business emails, much to his embarrassment. Patel is also facing mounting legal scrutiny. According to an Associated Press report, three fired FBI agents have filed a class action lawsuit against him seeking reinstatement, alleging they were unlawfully dismissed.

The lawsuit claims the agents were targeted for their involvement in investigations related to Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat. It describes the firings as part of a broader "retribution campaign". He is also under Trump's scrutiny over the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. 

Trump's Defence Chief Pete Hegseth, meanwhile, presents a different case. While the president has not talked about removing him directly, military experts have raised mounting concerns about his judgement in the past. According to a CNN report, a Pentagon inspector general report in December said that Hegseth risked endangering US troops when he shared sensitive military operational details on the unclassified Signal app ahead of strikes in Yemen in March 2025.

Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is also under scrutiny for a 2025 investigation into an alleged inappropriate workplace relationship with an employee. 

The pressure extends to the White House itself. On Tuesday, Press Secretary Leavitt became an unexpected target of Trump's frustration. When told about receiving 93 to 97 per cent negative press coverage, Trump turned directly to Leavitt and quipped, "Maybe Karoline is doing a poor job. You're doing a terrible job."

A White House spokesperson later said the remarks were made in jest, but the public exchange nonetheless signalled renewed doubts about her performance.

According to a Politico report, Trump has also expressed frustration and disappointment with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Final Call Awaited

Citing sources, Politico reported that Trump is "very angry and he's going to be moving people". The report claimed that no final decisions have been made on the future of his team, as Trump has contemplated firing people and then backed off before.

The potential high-level shuffling is reportedly focused on Cabinet officials Trump feels have "underperformed or who have generated too much negative attention".

Should Trump proceed with the Cabinet changes, it could represent a major attempted reset for an administration confronting an ominous political landscape.