Deputy BOP Chief Steps Down After Controversial Tenure | Charleston News

Charleston West Virginia News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 26, 2026 · 1m

Josh Smith, the first senior BOP leader to serve federal time himself, has stepped down after a controversial tenure marked by staffing crises and staff backlash. Appointed in June 2025, Smith oversaw 122 facilities and 36,000 workers managing 156,000 inmates — but his past as a former inmate and policies during his leadership drew criticism, including from union leaders who called his appointment “a slap in the face” and blamed it for mass resignations amid severe understaffing and mandatory overtime. Despite praise from BOP director William Marshall, Smith’s exit closes a uniquely personal…