On Friday, Kash Patel officially took the oath of office as the new director of the FBI, referring to the chance to lead the country’s top federal law enforcement agency as the “greatest honor” he has ever received.
Patel’s confirmation by the Senate came a day prior, with a narrow vote of 51-49. Notably, two Republican senators, Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, chose to vote against him.
President Donald Trump expressed his confidence in Patel, stating, “I think he’ll go down as the best ever at that position,” during remarks made before the swearing-in ceremony at the White House. Attorney General Pam Bondi carried out the swearing-in, which was also attended by several Republican congressional members, like Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Jim Jordan, both of whom showed strong support.
Trump added that “agents love this guy,” highlighting Patel’s popularity within the bureau.
Patel steps into leadership during a period of upheaval at the FBI, particularly following a month marked by the Justice Department removing a number of senior officials. Additionally, the department made an unusual request for the names of numerous agents involved in investigations tied to the January 6, 2021, incident at the U.S. Capitol.
Concerns among Democrats regarding Patel’s appointment have been raised. They worry he may act primarily as a loyalist to Trump, potentially misusing the FBI’s law enforcement powers to target the president’s opponents. They pointed to previous comments made by Patel indicating a desire to confront “anti-Trump conspirators” in the government and media.
During his confirmation hearing last month, Patel aimed to ease those apprehensions by asserting his commitment to uphold the Constitution and confirming he is not interested in personal vendettas. However, he did mention at his swearing-in that he has been the subject of “fake, malicious, slanderous and defamatory” reporting.
Meanwhile, Republicans, who are increasingly frustrated by what they perceive as bias against conservatives during the Democratic Biden administration and ongoing investigations concerning Trump, have rallied behind Patel, believing he is well-suited for the role.
Patel expressed intentions to bring significant reforms to the FBI, focusing on a decreased presence in Washington and a return to its core responsibilities of fighting traditional crimes, in light of the agency’s extensive shift towards intelligence-gathering over the past twenty years due to national security threats.
He articulated that the FBI’s “national security mission” is just as crucial as combating violent crime and drug-related issues.
“Anyone wishing to inflict harm upon our way of life and our citizens will encounter the full force of the Department of Justice and the FBI,” Patel declared. “Those hiding anywhere in this country or around the globe will face our world’s most extensive manhunt to locate and deal with you.”
Having previously served as a Justice Department counterterrorism prosecutor, Patel was nominated in November to succeed Christopher Wray, who had been selected by Trump in 2017 and stepped down when Biden took office as part of the transition to the new administration.
Wray’s tenure had been tumultuous, with major conflicts arising, particularly after FBI agents conducted a search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022, seeking classified documents—a circumstance that contributed to two federal investigations against Trump, although the indictments were eventually dismissed after Trump won re-election.
FBI directors are typically appointed for ten-year terms, a structure designed to shield them from political influences and prevent alignment with any particular administration. However, Trump’s tenure saw him dismiss FBI director James Comey after more than three years, and now Patel steps in after Wray spent over seven years in the role.
