DHS Records Show ICE Cut Basic Training From 72 Days to 42 and Graduation Fell to About 60%, Washington Post Reports

reported Checked against sources Importance 7/10 ~1 min read 2 sources

Before summer 2025, ICE basic training was a 72-day program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers in Georgia. DHS records obtained by the Washington Post show it was cut to 47 days in August 2025 and to 42 days in September, removing about 240 hours, more than 40% of instructional time (Washington Post via the Inquirer).

More than 1,400 recruits attended the shortened training between August and Jan. 1, 2026. The 2025 graduation rate fell from around 80% for full-length training to around 60% for the shortened versions. One in four recruits destined for field offices by year’s end flunked out. As of Jan. 1, more than 900 officers had completed the shortened course and were headed to field offices.

ICE later told the Associated Press that new recruits receive 56 days of training and 28 days of on-the-job training, and denied removing any training requirements.

Sources & Citations

[1] ICE training cuts, per DHS records (Washington Post, via the Philadelphia Inquirer) — The Washington Post (syndicated by the Philadelphia Inquirer) · Mar 3, 2026 Tier 1

[2] ICE went on a hiring spree; sterling credentials were not required (AP, via Los Angeles Times) — Associated Press (via Los Angeles Times) · Apr 17, 2026 Tier 1

Tiers Tier 1 court records & gov docs · Tier 2 established outlets · Tier 3 regional & specialty press · Tier 4 opinion or single-source. Methodology →

Cite this entry

The Cascade Ledger. “DHS Records Show ICE Cut Basic Training From 72 Days to 42 and Graduation Fell to About 60%, Washington Post Reports.” The Capture Cascade Timeline, March 3, 2026. https://capturecascade.org/event/2026-03-03--wapo-dhs-records-ice-basic-training-cut-to-42-days-graduation-rate-falls-to-60-percent/