Josh Smith Abruptly Leaves Bureau Of Prisons After Year Of Changes

A Sudden Exit

Josh Smith, the pardoned drug offender who served as the No. 2 official at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), announced Monday he was leaving the agency without giving a reason. His departure, confirmed by a BOP spokesperson and formally announced in a short note to staff on Tuesday by Director William Marshall, comes just over a year after he took the position in June 2025.

Smith, in a post on his personal X account, thanked President Trump for the chance to serve, referencing his 2021 pardon and his 2025 appointment. His own announcement was a lengthy Facebook post calling his tenure an "extraordinary and historic chapter." He thanked Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Marshall, and said he would return to Tennessee and rejoin the Fourth Purpose Foundation, the faith-based group he founded. He ended with: "This chapter has ended. The mission hasn't."

Marshall's statement offered no explanation but expressed gratitude: "On behalf of the Bureau, I want to thank Josh for his service and contributions and wish him and his family all the best in the future."

From Prisoner to Deputy Director

Smith's path to the BOP's second-highest post was unprecedented. He became the first person who had served time in federal prison to later hold such a senior leadership position in the agency. Smith was raised in East Tennessee, had a troubled childhood, and by age 21 was headed to federal prison on a drug conspiracy conviction; he served five years. He pleaded guilty in 1998 to conspiring to possess and distribute cocaine and marijuana and served his sentence in a BOP prison camp in Kentucky. After prison, he built Master Service Companies into a multimillion-dollar enterprise before selling it. He received a full presidential pardon from Trump in January 2021.

Smith created the Fourth Purpose Foundation, focused on improving correctional culture, supporting correctional employees, and preparing incarcerated people to return to communities. He also runs a media company called Prison Life Media.

A Year of Reforms

During his tenure, Smith was a catalyst for change. Alongside Director Marshall, the BOP altered its warden selection process, bringing outside expertise into the evaluation of candidates. Smith personally asked for the retirement of several senior executives and launched the National Resource Team initiative, including an assessment at FCC Victorville and a conference for high-security wardens. He traveled to more than 65 federal prisons, some visits unannounced, and hosted a podcast called "Transparency Talks."

The BOP terminated its master collective bargaining agreement with the Council of Prison Locals, following an executive order from President Trump. In March 2026, the BOP completed 37 policies in 90 days; those policies had gone an average of almost 13 years without being updated, with the oldest dating to 1997. Federal prisons face a deferred maintenance backlog exceeding $4 billion, and Congress provided funding through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In January, the BOP held its first Facilities Management Industry Day and developed Facilities Management Strike Teams.

On July 1, the BOP announced the closure of Beaumont FCI Low, Big Spring FCI and its satellite camp, La Tuna FCI and its satellite facilities, Lexington's satellite camp, Petersburg FCI Low, and Taft FCI; Morgantown and Duluth transitioned to Federal Satellite Low facilities. The closures reflected deteriorating infrastructure and staffing shortages. Marshall summarized the approach: "We are a Bureau that acts."

In an interview with CBS News, Smith said his approach entailed overhauling staffing and improving rehabilitative services. "I believe we should really care about what kind of people we are turning back out into our neighborhoods," he said. "I'm a tough-on-crime person, but I'm restorative in nature because they're going to be my neighbor." He said he helped switch out about 70% of the executive staff, including several top wardens, and added, "I hope what I was able to do was at least start a fire there."

Tensions and Criticism

Smith's tenure was not without controversy. He had a tense relationship with some BOP employees, and some raised questions about contracts awarded during his tenure. Union officials expressed concern that Smith's policies undermined staff and seemed to put prisoners' needs first. Joe Rojas, a retired correctional worker and union official, said: "Inmates are elevated more than staff. He is very toxic when it comes to staff. This is almost like a revenge tour."

Fernando Lopez, a retired BOP employee and local union official, said he was forced to retire after criticizing Smith on Facebook. Lopez alleged Smith showed no interest in meeting with employees, spent time with inmates, and ordered staff out of the room, saying he was "one of them." Lopez later wrote on Facebook: "F you, you fing pardoned crook." Smith said he doesn't recall the incident and said, "I've been challenging a lot of processes. It's never going to be comfortable while I'm around."

Former employees lampooned Smith and Marshall on a Facebook parody account "Federal Bureau of Prisons Avengers." A sticker depicts Marshall, Smith, and Todd Chrisley, with Chrisley holding up his middle finger and text "F@ck Staff." Smith said he takes it in stride and believes negative attitudes come from bitter former employees, saying "They're just bitter on the outside working with unions, and it's the way it's always been."

Questions also surrounded contracts. In August, the BOP announced a partnership with Precythe Sturm Advisory Group, a consulting firm run by Anne Precythe, to assist with warden hiring; the contract value was $183,400. Smith has an outside association with Precythe: in July, the media company affiliated with his nonprofit released a documentary about her called "Disruptors: Missouri, Anne Precythe." Smith touted the documentary's release on LinkedIn. Last month, the BOP awarded a contract to Securus Technologies to provide inmates with tablets for academic coursework, career training, rehabilitation and healthcare information; union officials expressed safety concerns and possible misuse. Smith said he had no role in contracting and had disclosed the documentary work.

Chrisley's Visits

Todd Chrisley, a convicted felon later pardoned by Trump, visited prisons in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, facilitated by BOP leadership, according to union officials and media reports. Chrisley spoke at a graduation ceremony for the Residential Drug Abuse Program at Federal Prison Camp Pensacola. Chrisley used his podcast to accuse BOP staff of improper behavior, saying he would refer complaints to Smith to get people fired. In a podcast clip, Chrisley accused an employee at a prison in Arizona of failing to provide a private place to breastfeed, saying "I reported you to Josh Smith … I want you terminated." Smith said he did not have a role in facilitating any of Chrisley's visits nor appeared on his program.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Smith declined to say why he left, but said he didn't need the job and acknowledged bureaucracy made his role difficult. He described the agency as confronting bureaucracy, staffing shortages, exhausted employees, leadership vacancies, outdated systems, and a culture needing change. In his resignation announcement, he wrote: "Our correctional system must hold people accountable. But accountability and redemption are not opposites." and "My own life is proof of what can happen when accountability is followed by opportunity."

Marshall's statement emphasized the Bureau's continued focus on public safety. Smith's future plans involve returning to Tennessee and his foundation, leaving behind an agency he described as still in the midst of change.