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FBI no longer treating an applicant’s experience with prostitution as automatic bar against hiring
The bureau will still reject candidates with recent or repeated solicitation history as it broadens review to weigh context and individual circumstances.
In June, the FBI updated its background check standards, no longer treating past prostitution or bestiality as automatic disqualifiers for employment, and will now consider candidates' histories in a more holistic manner.
Officials aim to evaluate the 'whole person' during the application process, acknowledging that some otherwise suitable candidates may have engaged in such practices in legal jurisdictions or as victims of sexual abuse.
Applicants remain ineligible if they solicited sex within the last 10 years, did so three or more times, or held a position of trust, while the bureau excludes those who stole from employers within the last three years.
Former agents and attorneys expressed concern that lowering requirements could lead the bureau to hire individuals with histories of sexual or criminal conduct, pointing to broader challenges in recruiting qualified applicants.
Facing the loss of over 1,000 special agents in 2025, the bureau has overhauled legacy hiring requirements, with Patel stating in a July interview these efforts aim to attract candidates rather than reducing suitability standards.