Patel, Blanche detail Chicago ‘Midway Blitz’: ATF mobile ballistics lab, agent reassignments, protest curfew
As part of "Operation Midway Blitz" FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said federal agencies are "flexing" resources in Chicago—reassigning FBI agents (Sen. Mark Warner has estimated roughly 25%), deploying the National Guard and Border Patrol personnel under visible commanders such as Greg Bovino, and expanding DHS facilities and security. ATF is operating a mobile ballistics command center that test‑fires recovered guns and uploads casings into NIBIN for real‑time leads, while the crackdown has prompted local pushback and controversy (Gov. J.B. Pritzker called it a "war zone," Broadview imposed a protest curfew) amid disputed reports of arrests and other incidents.
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📌 Key Facts
- The Justice Department’s Chicago operation, dubbed “Midway Blitz,” was publicly advanced by FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who said the FBI is 'flexing resources' to support DHS and immigration enforcement and defended deploying the National Guard to Chicago; Senator Mark Warner has said roughly 25% of FBI agents were reassigned to the effort.
- ATF deployed a one‑of‑a‑kind mobile ballistics command center in Chicago where agents test‑fire every recovered firearm and immediately enter casings into NIBIN to generate real‑time leads.
- Interagency enforcement actions in Chicago (CBP, FBI, ATF) were reported to have resulted in arrests of 37 noncitizens from countries including Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia and Nigeria, and DHS has publicly defended those operations while asserting presidential authority to deploy troops to protect federal facilities.
- The federal campaign has prompted local controversy and protests — including reported incidents (a priest struck by ICE, vehicle‑ramming incidents, and alleged detention of U.S.‑citizen children) — and Broadview’s mayor imposed a protest curfew near the ICE facility; Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino has been a visible operational commander engaging demonstrators on the ground.
- Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker sharply criticized the federal crackdown, calling it 'making it a war zone'; DHS responded with a public rebuttal (quoting Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin) disputing aspects of the governor’s claims.
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said DHS is purchasing additional buildings in Chicago (and looking in Portland), hardening federal facilities with added security measures — including deploying snipers on rooftops — and warned local leaders they could face more federal law‑enforcement deployments if they do not cooperate.
- Amid the federal shutdown, OMB Director Russ Vought announced holds on major funding as part of the administration’s shutdown posture: roughly $2.1 billion paused for Chicago projects (including the Red Line extension), about $18 billion for New York infrastructure (including Hudson Tunnel and other subway projects) and $8 billion in energy/climate projects; the pauses were framed by the White House and President Trump as an opportunity to reshape spending (Trump calling it 'clearing out dead wood') and tied to Vought’s broader agenda, though legal experts have cautioned that shutdown authorities differ from permanent personnel‑reduction powers.
📚 Contextual Background
- The Trump administration announced the cancellation of nearly $8 billion in climate-related projects in 16 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.
- Fourteen of the 16 states affected by the cancellations had Democratic governors, while New Hampshire and Vermont had Republican governors.
- Chuck Schumer is the Senate Minority Leader and a United States Senator representing New York.
- Hakeem Jeffries is the House Minority Leader and a member of the United States House of Representatives representing New York.
📰 Sources (13)
Meet the Border Patrol Chief Leading Trump’s Chicago Crackdown
New information:
- Names Greg Bovino as the operational field commander visible at protests and raids, complementing prior reporting focused on Patel/Blanche and interagency posture.
- Describes Bovino’s prominent, deterrence‑by‑visibility approach and direct interactions with demonstrators at Broadview.
Noem: Trump administration doubling down with new federal facilities in Chicago, Portland
New information:
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said DHS is purchasing additional buildings in Chicago to expand operations.
- Noem said DHS is also looking to purchase new facilities in Portland to "double down" on enforcement there.
- Noem stated DHS is hardening federal buildings with added security measures, including placing snipers on rooftops, following recent attacks on ICE and a Dallas ICE facility shooting.
- Noem threatened to bring in more federal law enforcement if Portland leaders do not cooperate on safety and security.
‘Operation Midway Blitz’: Inside DOJ’s push to tackle crime, illegal immigration in Chicago
New information:
- Blanche labeled Chicago 'ground zero' for an escalating assault on law enforcement and cited an 'organized effort by domestic terrorists' to injure officers.
- Patel defended shifting FBI resources to support immigration enforcement as prioritizing citizens; the article cites Sen. Mark Warner’s claim that roughly 25% of FBI agents were reassigned.
- ATF Chicago ASAC Jonathan Maniff said agents are test-firing every gun recovered in 'Midway Blitz' inside a one-of-a-kind mobile command center and immediately entering casings into NIBIN for real-time lead generation.
- Reference to controversy and DHS pushback over alleged incidents (a priest struck by ICE, two vehicle-ramming incidents, alleged detention of U.S.-citizen children) and note that Broadview’s mayor imposed a protest curfew near the ICE facility.
Patel, FBI 'flex resources' for Windy City crime crackdown as part of Trump administration's 'focused effort'
New information:
- On Oct. 7, 2025 FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche toured the FBI Chicago field office and publicly defended deploying the National Guard to Chicago.
- Patel said the FBI is 'flexing resources' to support DHS and linked efforts to removing 'illegal aliens that are correlated to that violent crime,' explicitly tying immigration enforcement to the federal operation.
- Blanche publicly urged that the National Guard is needed in Chicago and criticized state opposition to the deployments, saying officials 'have access to the same TV' and arguing Guard assistance is necessary.
DHS takes on Pritzker's 'Smorgasbord of Lies,' releases list debunking his claims
New information:
- DHS publicly released a list it says 'debunks' Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s claims about federal operations and included direct quotations from DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
- DHS says a targeted South Shore apartment operation conducted with CBP, FBI and ATF resulted in the arrest of 37 noncitizens from countries including Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia and Nigeria, and that Tren de Aragua gang members were among those arrested.
- DHS explicitly asserted President Trump’s constitutional authority to deploy troops to defend federal facilities and defended ICE/CBP operations against the governor’s accusations of targeting U.S. citizens.
Pritzker says Trump officials' Chicago crackdown is "making it a war zone"
New information:
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker publicly characterized recent Trump-administration enforcement and deployment actions in Chicago as 'making it a war zone' (quote reported Oct. 5, 2025).
- The article records an on-the-record, high-level state official escalation in rhetoric toward federal officials over enforcement tactics in Chicago (named participant: Gov. J.B. Pritzker).
Trump to withhold $2.1 billion for Chicago infrastructure projects amid shutdown battle
New information:
- The Trump administration (via OMB/White House Budget Director Russ Vought) will withhold $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago infrastructure projects.
- The pause specifically affects the planned extension of Chicago’s Red Line train.
- Russ Vought said on social media the funds were 'put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing via race‑based contracting.'
- This action is presented alongside an earlier, separate withholding announcement affecting New York infrastructure funding.
As the shutdown drags on, the threat of permanent cuts is mired in politics
New information:
- Direct reporting that Russell Vought 'announced' the cancellation/withholding of $8 billion in energy projects and said he would cancel $18 billion in New York infrastructure funding (strong attribution to OMB/administration)
- President Trump’s Truth Social message framing the pause as an opportunity to "clear out dead wood" and calling Democrats the 'Radical Left', quoted verbatim
- House Speaker Mike Johnson's on‑the‑record statement endorsing Vought's role and characterizing the decision as following a presidential directive
- Legal/analytical quote from Bridget Dooling (Ohio State law professor and former OMB official) calling the administration's layoffs threat a 'bluff' and distinguishing temporary lapses from permanent RIF authority
- Contextual background on Russell Vought's prior advocacy (Project 2025) linking his earlier policy prescriptions to current OMB actions
Who is Russ Vought? What to know about Trump's OMB director ahead of shutdown layoffs
New information:
- CBS ties those funding freezes explicitly to decisions being implemented and communicated by OMB Director Russ Vought as part of the administration's shutdown posture.
- Adds context that Vought has sought rescissions previously and frames the freezes as consistent with his Project 2025 agenda to limit agency autonomy.
Government shutdown live updates as impasse enters second day
New information:
- CBS live update confirms the White House move to pause $18 billion in New York infrastructure funding and $8 billion in climate-related projects.
- Reports that Senate won't vote again until Friday (observance of Yom Kippur) which affects the near-term path to restoring funding.
- Direct quote from President Trump on Truth Social framing the shutdown as a chance to 'clear out dead wood.'
Trump uses government shutdown to dole out firings and political punishment
New information:
- Direct attribution that OMB placed roughly $18 billion on hold for New York subway and Hudson Tunnel projects during the shutdown (confirmed in this AP piece)
- Contextual quote from President Trump praising OMB Director Russ Vought's ability to 'trim the budget' and framing the shutdown as an opportunity to reshape spending priorities
Trump freezes $18 billion in funding for NYC, home to key Democratic leaders
New information:
- USDOT explicitly tied its review of New York funding to the federal shutdown in its statement, per NPR reporting.
- NPR reports an immediate operational effect: a $300 million disbursement for the Second Avenue subway project will be affected immediately.
- Direct attributions and quotes included from Russell Vought (OMB post on X), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (post on X), and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's press‑conference remarks.