The FBI is up against a tight deadline this Tuesday, with senior leaders wrestling over whether to turn over details about employees who worked on cases tied to the January 6 Capitol riot. Sources say the Justice Department has demanded a full list of these individuals, sparking concerns that the move could lead to firings.

As of Monday, acting FBI director Brian Driscoll and other top officials hadn’t made a final call. The order, reportedly issued by Trump-appointed DOJ officials, requires the bureau to provide the information by noon ET on Tuesday. Many FBI staff worry this could be an attempt to target and remove employees who handled January 6 investigations.

Options on the table include handing over only senior executives’ names, providing a full list of everyone involved, or pushing back against the demand altogether. In a recent message to employees, Driscoll assured them that the FBI would “follow the law, follow FBI policy, and do what’s in the best interest of the workforce and the American people.”

To identify who worked on these cases, the FBI sent out surveys to employees on Sunday, asking about their specific roles. This comes amid reports that the Trump administration is considering expanding its removal of bureau personnel, a move that’s already facing significant resistance.

Advocacy groups representing federal law enforcement officers have urged Congress to step in and block any attempts to purge FBI officials. Meanwhile, James Dennehy, head of the FBI’s New York field office, sent a passionate email to his team, vowing to “dig in” and defend them.

“I will support each and every one of you,” Dennehy wrote, comparing the situation to his days in the Marines. “I’m sticking around to defend you, your work, your families, and this team.”

The tension comes as the DOJ recently fired several officials involved in Trump-related investigations, with a letter stating they couldn’t be “trusted” to carry out Trump’s agenda. Lawyers representing FBI agents and prosecutors have also warned that any terminations would violate employees’ due process rights and could expose them to serious risks like harassment or doxing.

As the clock ticks down, the FBI’s decision could have major implications for its workforce and the ongoing investigations into the Capitol riot.