Kash Patel has been confirmed as the new Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) following a narrow vote in the United States Senate.
Patel, 44, becomes the first Indian-American to lead the FBI, securing his position with a 51-49 vote on Friday. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, voted against his confirmation.
Patel’s nomination was met with intense scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers, who voiced concerns that he could use his position to pursue political retribution on behalf of former President Donald Trump.
During his confirmation hearings, Patel denied maintaining a list of so-called ‘deep state’ enemies and downplayed controversial past statements in which he referred to law enforcement officials investigating Trump as ‘criminal gangsters’.
Following his confirmation, Patel posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I am honoured 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.”
He continued, “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 politicisation 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.”
Patel also emphasised his commitment to security, warning that the agency would actively pursue those who seek to harm Americans. His confirmation marks the 18th Cabinet-level official approved since Trump’s inauguration last month.
Patel takes charge of the FBI during a turbulent period, following the forced resignations of senior officials by the Department of Justice. The department had also sought the identities of FBI agents involved in investigating the 2021 attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters.
Patel replaces Christopher Wray, who was appointed in 2017 but resigned last month before Trump’s inauguration, following indications that he would be dismissed.
Republicans have defended Patel’s appointment, asserting that he will bring transparency to the FBI.
Trump described Patel as “an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution,” adding, “Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people.”
Democrats, however, have strongly opposed his appointment. Senator Martin Heinrich stated, “(Patel’s) poor judgment and lack of experience make him wholly unqualified to keep Americans safe as our FBI Director. I voted no.”
Senator Adam Schiff said, “Our Republican colleagues, intimidated by this president and threats of primary challenges from the MAGA world, may vote to confirm him. But… they will have to live with that vote.”
As FBI Director, Patel will oversee an agency with over 30,000 employees, responsible for national security, counterterrorism, and violent crime investigations. Prior to his nomination, he advocated for major changes within the FBI, arguing in his 2023 book that the agency had become “a tool of surveillance and suppression of American citizens.”
Trump announced his intention to appoint Patel as FBI Director in November last year. Reports indicate that Patel’s supporters include former FBI agents accused of misconduct, some of whom have received financial assistance from Patel’s nonprofit foundation.
These individuals have maintained contact with Patel since his nomination, according to a US-based outlet.
Born in New York, Patel has roots in Gujarat. His parents, originally from East Africa—his mother from Tanzania and his father from Uganda—emigrated to the US from Canada in 1970. In an interview, Patel stated, “We are Gujarati.”
Patel grew up in Queens, New York, an area often referred to as ‘Little India’. His parents, now retired, divide their time between the US and Gujarat.
He pursued his education in New York before attending college in Richmond, Virginia, and later law school in New York. He later moved to Florida, where he worked as a state public defender for four years before becoming a federal public defender for another four years.
An avid ice hockey player, Patel has been involved in the sport since childhood and continues to coach youth hockey in his free time.
Patel attended both the Houston and Ahmedabad rallies of Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2019 and February 2020. He had expressed his belief that US-Gujarat relations had suffered under the Biden administration.
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