President-elect Donald Trump has named longtime ally Kashyap “Kash” Patel as the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), making him a major critic of the agency. Patel, 44, has been a member of Trump’s transition team and has helped uncover the bureau’s surveillance of the Trump campaign and presidency.
A lawyer with experience in national security, intelligence, and counterterrorism, Patel has served as a senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council and as chief of staff to the acting Secretary of Defense. He has been a vocal critic of bureaucracy and corruption, publishing a book in 2023 called “Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy,” which delves into the “major players and tactics within the permanent government bureaucracy.”
The announcement was made in a Truth Social post over the weekend, with Trump praising Patel’s experience and commitment to the “America First” movement. Patel has also been praised by Trump ally Mike Davis, who said he is “unquestionably qualified” to lead the FBI and will bring needed reforms to the agency.
Patel’s appointment requires Senate confirmation, but Davis, a former Senate Judiciary Committee staffer, believes he will win confirmation and work with Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi to reform the FBI. Trump’s statement also highlighted Patel’s commitment to combating crime, dismantling human and drug trafficking, and promoting “Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity” within the FBI.