The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has undergone a leadership shakeup as Colette Peters, who served as director since August 2022, stepped down on the same day President Donald Trump was inaugurated. Peters’ departure comes amid sweeping changes to the Justice Department, including the repeal of a Biden-era executive order aimed at phasing out the use of private prisons. William Lothrop, the former deputy director with over 30 years of experience in the agency, has assumed the role of acting director, Fox News reported.
In his first statement as acting director, Lothrop acknowledged the persistent challenges within the BOP, including staffing shortages and operational hurdles. He emphasized his commitment to collaborating with law enforcement partners and stakeholders to enhance programming and inmate support services, reaffirming the agency’s mission to provide a safe and humane environment while preparing inmates for reentry into society.
Peters, who was appointed by former Attorney General Merrick Garland, was positioned as a reform-minded leader tasked with addressing long-standing issues of corruption, misconduct, and chronic understaffing within the BOP. During her tenure, she announced the closure of seven federal prison facilities, including the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin in California. FCI Dublin, widely known as the “rape club,” was at the center of a major abuse scandal, with the Justice Department ordered to pay nearly $116 million in settlements to 103 women who reported sexual abuse by prison staff. The prison’s former warden, Ray Garcia, along with at least seven other employees, have been convicted and sentenced for sexually abusing inmates.
Despite Peters’ reform efforts, her leadership faced significant criticism. She appeared before both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, where lawmakers, including Senators Tom Cotton and Mike Lee, expressed frustration over her failure to provide timely responses to their inquiries regarding the agency’s operations. Lawmakers were further irritated when Peters struggled to answer basic operational questions, such as the number of correctional officers on staff, and relied heavily on prepared notes and talking points during hearings.
During Peters’ tenure, then-President Joe Biden signed the Federal Prison Oversight Law, which authorized the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to conduct more unannounced inspections of federal prisons. Previous OIG inspections uncovered severe issues such as staffing shortages, inadequate medical care, unsanitary living conditions, and substandard food quality. While Peters welcomed the law, she noted that it had not yet been adequately funded to achieve its intended oversight objectives.
President Trump’s administration wasted no time in reversing Executive Order 14006, which had prohibited the Justice Department from entering into contracts with private prison corporations. With the reversal, private prison companies can now negotiate new contracts with the U.S. Marshals Service, signaling a shift in federal incarceration policy under Trump’s leadership.