WASHINGTON
Kash Patel took the oath of office on Friday, becoming the new director of the FBI. He described this position as the “greatest honor” he has ever received in his professional career.
His confirmation come from the Senate with a narrow vote of 51-49, where two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, crossed party lines to vote against him.
President Donald Trump expressed his belief that Patel will be an outstanding leader in this role, stating, “I think he’ll go down as the best ever at that position.” This statement was made to reporters just before Patel’s swearing-in ceremony, which was officiated by Attorney General Pam Bondi and attended by various Republican supporters, including Senator Ted Cruz from Texas and Representative Jim Jordan from Ohio. Trump noted that “agents love this guy,” underlining the supportive sentiment within the bureau.
Patel steps into this role amid significant unrest within the FBI, as the Justice Department recently dismissed several senior officials and asked for the names of numerous agents involved in investigations tied to the events of January 6, 2021, at the Capitol.
Concerns arose from Democratic lawmakers who worry that Patel might act as a Trump loyalist and misuse the FBI’s powers against political opponents. They referenced his prior comments indicating a willingness to pursue those he viewed as anti-Trump “conspirators” within government and media prior to his nomination.
During his confirmation hearing, Patel aimed to alleviate these worries by asserting his commitment to upholding the Constitution and indicating he had no intention of seeking revenge. However, at his swearing-in event, he did express frustration over what he called “fake, malicious, slanderous and defamatory” reports about him published in the media.
Amid claims of law enforcement bias against conservatives during the Biden administration and ongoing investigations related to Trump, Republicans have come together to support Patel, viewing him as the right choice for the role.
Patel has already indicated his plans for significant reforms within the FBI. He wants to minimize the bureau’s presence in Washington and refocus on its core duties of fighting traditional crime, rather than the intelligence-related missions that have taken precedence in recent decades due to increasing national security threats.
He emphasized on Friday that while the FBI’s duties related to national security are crucial, so too are efforts directed at combating violent crime and drug overdoses. He stated, “Anyone that wishes to do harm to our way of life and our citizens, here and abroad, will face the full wrath of the DOJ and FBI.” He also promised that any individual attempting to hide, whether domestically or internationally, would be pursued relentlessly until captured, vowing, “we will put on the world’s largest manhunt and we will find you.”
Having previously served as a counterterrorism prosecutor at the Justice Department, Patel was appointed in November to succeed Christopher Wray. Wray, who held the position since his appointment by Trump in 2017, stepped down at the end of the Biden administration to allow for this transition.
Wray’s tenure was marked by tensions with Trump, particularly after the FBI conducted a search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022 as part of an investigation into classified documents. This investigation ultimately led to legal complications for Trump following his election victory.
FBI directors are typically appointed to a 10-year term, serving to protect them from political pressure and ensuring they remain independent from any particular presidential influence. However, Trump had previously dismissed James Comey after just over three years in the role and has now replaced Wray after more than seven years in office.
