After weeks of delays, the U.S. Senate confirmed Kashyap “Kash” Patel as head of the FBI in a 51-49 vote Thursday afternoon, barely approving the last of President Donald Trump’s most controversial cabinet nominees.
Patel, 44, will assume the 10-year position with previous experience as a terrorism prosecutor at the Department of Justice, an advisor to the U.S. National Security Council, and as chief of staff to the Defense secretary during the first Trump administration.
The long-time Trump supporter has pledged to restore public trust in the intelligence agency by acting transparently, end the weaponization of the justice system against parents and people of faith, and protect federal whistleblowers from retaliation.
Many lawmakers raised concerns about past comments Patel has made allegedly about prosecuting his political enemies and his promises to “annihilate” the “Deep State.” Senators also received evasive answers when grilling Patel about his connection with a Jan. 6th choir, though Patel broke with Trump’s decision to pardon Jan. 6 protesters.
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., told lawmakers Thursday that confirming Patel as FBI director is comparative to “putting an arsonist in charge of a fire department.”
Republican Sens. Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska joined Democrats in voting against Patel, citing concerns over his ability to run the agency apolitically.
“The FBI must be trusted as the federal agency that roots out crime and corruption, not focused on settling political scores,” Murkowski said on X. “I truly hope that he proves me wrong about the reservations I have of him today.”
But Patel and other Republicans say he will bring an end to the “weaponization of the justice system,” which the long-time Trump-supporter says he has personally experienced.
While working in national security during the first Trump administration, Patel began investigating the false allegations that the president’s campaign colluded with the Russians. Unbeknownst to him, the FBI secretly subpoenaed his records while he carried out the investigation, prompting condemnation from Republicans who said the bureau’s actions pointed to inside corruption.
Patel will replace former FBI Director Christopher Wray, who was appointed during the first Trump administration but drew the president’s ire after the 2022 FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago. Despite having three years left on his term, Wray resigned at the end of Joe Biden’s presidency.
Most Republicans are celebrating Patel’s confirmation as another step forward in Trump’s plan to “drain the swamp.”
“Under Biden, the FBI was plagued by anti-American rot and political corruption,” Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., said on X following the vote. “Kash will reform our principal law enforcement agency and fiercely defend We the People.”
