Changes for the BOP January 2025
With the new administration in office, there are changes for the Bureau of Prisons. As confirmation of Pam Bondi as Attorney General looks, many adjustments are coming that will make a great impact for the agency.
Director Peters Steps Down
Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Colette Peters announced her resignation on Monday, January 20, paving the way for new leadership. The move was anticipated amid speculation that the new administration wanted a new appointee. Peters’ departure marks the agency’s sixth director change since Trump’s initial presidency, highlighting a pressing need for stability within an organization critical to national security.
While Peters earned the support of Congress, she struggled to gain the confidence of the BOP’s rank and file. Her vision of creating “better neighbors rather than better inmates” failed to resonate widely, though she achieved notable progress in advancing the First Step Act. Despite these efforts, significant work remains to address the challenges facing the agency. With Peters’ exit, the search for her successor begins.
Hiring Freeze, BOP Impact Uncertain
In one of several Executive Orders issued on his first day, the administration has announced a hiring freeze, with exceptions only for essential positions. Some may recall that during Trump’s first term, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) was not classified as essential, raising concerns about whether the same approach will be taken this time.
Currently, there is no confirmation on how the BOP will be affected, but sources indicate hiring may be paused until further guidance is issued. With the BOP already facing severe staffing shortages, this freeze could exacerbate existing challenges. Reports suggest morale is particularly low at the seven prisons closed by former Director Peters last month, and more lockdowns across facilities may be on the horizon.
Use of Private Prisons
Following in line with his first term policies, President Trump reinstated the use of private prisons for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and the U.S. Marshals Service on his first day back in office. This reverses the decision by Presidents Biden and Obama, who had halted such practices during their administrations.
It is believed private prisons will once again primarily house non-U.S. citizens. For example, Moshannon Valley Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania, which was shuttered under Biden, led to the transfer of many inmates to low-security federal prisons. While it remains unclear if the BOP will reactivate the GEO Group-owned facility, it is expected that private prison contracts will be used to manage portions of the federal prison population.
The BOP’s Ongoing Staffing Crisis
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, prisons across the United States were struggling with severe staffing shortages. Despite the BOP’s operating $8.3 billion annual budget, it has faced persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. Initiatives such as job fairs, retention bonuses, and increased pay have done little to resolve the crisis, leaving many federal facilities critically understaffed.
In December 2024, the BOP announced the closure of seven prisons, including six male prison camps, as part of a cost-saving effort to consolidate operations. However, these staffing shortfalls are not limited to federal institutions, reflecting a broader, systemic issue within the corrections system nationwide.