US president Donald Trump’s newly appointed FBI chief Kash Patel on Thursday vowed to make the federal agency transparent, accountable, and committed to justice.
In his first reaction after the confirmation by the US Senate, Patel warned those who try to harm America and reiterated his promise to rebuild trust in the FBI.
“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,” Patel wrote on X.
“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,” he added.
Patel’s nomination faced opposition from Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, however, he received backing from the rest of the Republican Party, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had previously opposed other Trump nominees.
The confirmation passed with a narrow 51-49 vote, as all Senate Democrats voted against him.
Patel, a Trump loyalist and vocal critic of the agency, would take charge during a period of significant upheaval. Recent developments include the Justice Department‘s removal of senior FBI officials and an unusual request for identifying thousands of agents involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot investigations.
As FBI directors serve 10-year terms to maintain independence, Patel replaced Christopher Wray, who resigned before Trump’s return to office. Patel previously served as a federal defender and Justice Department counterterrorism prosecutor, gaining Trump’s attention through his critical analysis of the FBI’s Russia investigation whilst working for the House Intelligence Committee.
