The deal, formalized in a federal court in Washington, mandates that FBI officials be given 48 hours’ notice before any public disclosure, allowing them to challenge the release in court, according to a court order. However, it does not place any time limit on the dissemination of agents’ identities to other government agencies or to the White House.

Mark S. Zaid, an attorney representing the Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Association, saw the deal as a “significant victory protecting FBI employees” despite the two-day notice exception noted in the order, according to a post on X.

U.S. Judge Kian M. Cobb, a Biden appointee overseeing the case, set a preliminary injunction hearing date of March 27 as litigation proceeds.

The FBI on Thursday also complied with the DOJ’s demand by providing names through a classified system, acting Director Brian Driscoll told employees in an email Thursday. “I want to be clear that as of now we do not have information indicating the Department of Justice intends to disseminate these lists publicly,” he wrote.

Tensions mounted between the two agencies after the DOJ, led by acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, demanded the names of agents who worked on Jan. 6 cases earlier this week, overruling the FBI’s decision to provide only employee ID numbers. The bureau cited safety concerns, warning that public disclosure could endanger personnel and their families.

The dispute began last week when Bove ordered the FBI acting director to terminate jobs of eight top executives at the bureau and hand over names of all employees who interacted with Jan. 6 cases for possible “personnel action.” The order sent shockwaves across the bureau, prompting agents to fear for their jobs.

Per the agreement, the DOJ must provide two business days’ notice before releasing the names, allowing affected employees time to seek legal intervention. The Washington Examiner contacted the DOJ about whether it intends to move forward with attempts to send the names to other arms of the executive branch.

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While Bove has denied that the inquiry seeks to retaliate against agents, he accused FBI leadership of “insubordination” for resisting full compliance.

The case underscores growing tensions over how the Trump administration has approached its review of what Trump allies have called the politically biased handling of Jan. 6 investigations under the Biden administration, just weeks after Trump issued sweeping pardons for more than 1,500 defendants involved in the riot at the Capitol in 2021.

Ashley Oliver contributed to this report.