Executive Summary
- Whistleblower Ryan Schwank is set to testify that ICE training is “deficient” and “broken.”
- Senate documents reveal a reduction in training hours from 584 to approximately 336.
- Critical courses, including use-of-force simulations, are reportedly missing from new syllabi.
- ICE officials maintain that training has been streamlined rather than reduced in quality.
- The dispute occurs amidst a massive hiring surge of over 12,000 new agents.
WASHINGTON — Ryan Schwank, a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official and instructor, is scheduled to come forward on Monday as a whistleblower to allege that the agency’s training program for new recruits is “deficient” and “broken.” This testimony coincides with the release of internal records by Senate Democrats, which reportedly indicate a significant reduction in training hours as the administration accelerates its hiring of enforcement officers.
Schwank, who resigned from his position at the federal law enforcement training academy earlier this month, is expected to detail a curriculum that has been pared back to accommodate a rapid expansion of the agency’s workforce. According to prepared remarks obtained prior to his testimony, Schwank warns that without reform, thousands of new officers may graduate without fully understanding their constitutional duties or the limits of their authority.
Documents released by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs suggest that basic training for ICE officers has been curtailed significantly. A comparison of internal syllabuses indicates that training hours dropped from 584 hours over 72 days in July 2025 to approximately 336 hours over 42 days in February 2026. This data points to a reduction of roughly 40 percent in instructional time.
Specific courses previously required, such as “Use of Force Simulation Training,” “Judgment Pistol Shooting,” and modules on constitutional law, appear to be absent from recent training schedules. Additionally, the number of required practical examinations for graduation has reportedly decreased from 25 to nine. These changes are occurring as the agency implements a hiring surge funded by a $75 billion infusion directed by President Trump, which has already added over 12,000 new officers to the force.
In response to these allegations, ICE and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have defended the current regimen. Todd Lyons, ICE’s acting director, recently told Congress that the agency has “streamlined” training to eliminate redundancy and leverage technology, denying that standards have been lowered. A DHS spokesperson stated that many recruits are experienced law enforcement officers and that the agency has not sacrificed basic subject matter content.
Operational and Legislative Implications
The alleged reduction in training standards amidst a rapid expansion of federal law enforcement personnel raises significant questions regarding operational readiness and liability. If the claims regarding the removal of constitutional and use-of-force training are substantiated, the agency may face heightened legal scrutiny and potential civil rights challenges in the future. Furthermore, the friction between the executive branch’s accelerated hiring mandates and legislative oversight bodies suggests a deepening conflict over the governance, quality control, and resource allocation within the Department of Homeland Security.
