Kash Patel was confirmed as the new FBI Director by the Senate Thursday in a 51-49 vote.
According to the Western Journal, Democrats attempted to draw out the confirmation process, while it was opposed by Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine.
Patel, the 19th nominee of President Donald Trump, has been confirmed, maintaining an unprecedented rate of Senate confirmations that surpasses the previous three administrations.
During the previous Trump administration, Patel served as the senior director of counterterrorism at the National Security Council and deputy director of national intelligence.
The WJ further reported that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA.), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed his support for Patel, and pointed out that while his resume doesn’t fit a typical mold of an FBI director, he noted “We aren’t living in normal times,” and added that Patel is the right person for the job.
“Mr. Patel served as a public defender, a counterterrorism prosecutor under President Obama and a House staffer. … He’s fought for transparency and accountability in the government.” Grassley said. “He [poses] a threat to the existing system — a system that has retaliated against whistleblowers, engaged in unprecedented lawfare against the President and the American people and obstructed congressional oversight. Mr. Patel will end these abuses. He will restore the FBI to its essential mission of keeping Americans safe.”
Patel had previously proposed shutting down the FBI’s headquarters, stating on a September episode of the “Shawn Ryan Show” podcast, “I’d shut down the FBI Hoover Building on Day 1 and reopen it the next day as a museum of the ‘deep state.'”
In a January op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Patel updated his vision for the FBI, beginning with restoring public trust in the agency, enhancing congressional oversight, allowing “good cops be cops” to apprehend more criminals, and streamlining the agency’s operations.
Patel wrote on X that he was honored to be confirmed, and noted he was ready to rebuild the FBI and get to work.
“I am honored to be confirmed as the ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Thank you to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for your unwavering confidence and support. The FBI has a storied legacy—from the “G-Men” to safeguarding our nation in the wake of 9/11. The American people deserve an FBI that is transparent, accountable, and committed to justice. The politicalization of our justice system has eroded public trust—but that ends today. My mission as Director is clear: let good cops be cops—and rebuild trust in the FBI. Working alongside the dedicated men and women of the Bureau and our partners, we will rebuild an FBI the American people can be proud of. And to those who seek to harm Americans—consider this your warning. We will hunt you down in every corner of this planet. Mission First. America Always. Let’s get to work.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino congratulated Patel on his confirmation.
“Moments ago in the Oval Office. Congratulations to the Ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kash Patel. President Trump has officially signed the commission…Follow Kash on his new 𝕏 account: @FBIDirectorKash.”
