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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Unease intensifies as FBI chief Patel ousts top officials
Mr Kash Patel (pictured) and his deputy Dan Bongino quickly restock senior ranks with agents and turn the agency's attention to immigration. PHOTO: AFP WASHINGTON – Before being confirmed as the director of the FBI, Mr Kash Patel made clear his intent to remake it in his own image, reflecting a larger desire by the White House to bend the agency to its will. 'The FBI has become so thoroughly compromised that it will remain a threat to the people unless drastic measures are taken,' he wrote in his book 'Government Gangsters,' asserting that the top ranks of the bureau should be eliminated. Behind the scenes, his vision of an FBI under President Donald Trump is quietly taking shape. Agents have been forced out. Others have been demoted or put on leave with no explanation. And in an effort to hunt down the sources of news leaks, Mr Patel is forcing employees to take polygraph tests. Taken together, the moves are causing worrisome upheaval at the FBI, eliciting fear and uncertainty as Mr Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino quickly restock senior ranks with agents and turn the agency's attention to immigration. Their persistent claims that the bureau was politicised under previous directors, in addition to their swift actions against colleagues, have left employees to wonder whether they, too, will be ousted, either because they worked on an investigation vilified by Trump supporters or had ties to the previous administration. The actions have obliterated decades of experience in national security and criminal matters at the FBI and raised questions about whether the agents taking over such critical posts have the institutional knowledge to pursue cornerstones of its work. 'The director and I will have most of our incoming reform teams in place by next week,' Mr Bongino wrote on social media last week. 'The hiring process can take a little bit of time, but we are approaching that finish line. This will help us both in doubling down on our reform agenda.' He added that the agency would revisit past investigations, like the 2022 leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion on abortion, cocaine found two years ago at the White House and pipe bombs found near the Capitol on Jan 6, 2021. (Two of the cases were not the FBI's to start – the Secret Service investigated the cocaine and the Supreme Court marshal the leak of the draft opinion.) 'The director and I evaluated a number of cases of potential public corruption that, understandably, have garnered public interest,' Mr Bongino said, oddly referring to the pipe bombs as a potential act of public corruption rather than domestic terrorism. In his previous role as a podcast host, he insisted, without offering evidence, that the pipe bombs were 'an inside job' and that 'the FBI knows who this person is'. The FBI typically does not talk about investigations, and Mr Bongino's statement did little to dispel perceptions that he and Mr Patel are eager to rehash years-old right-wing grievances by revisiting episodes that have angered conservatives aligned with the president. Their actions have fuelled the same criticism they levelled at the bureau under the Biden administration: that the FBI is becoming weaponised. This article is based on interviews with nearly a dozen current and former law enforcement officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. The FBI, which typically does not respond to questions involving personnel, did not provide comment. Former and current FBI officials warned that the attempts by Trump loyalists to mold the bureau to their worldview could ultimately have a chilling effect on agents seeking to open cases that could upset Trump or his base. They added that they viewed many of the personnel moves as retribution. Mr Patel and Mr Bongino have sent a clear message on previous FBI investigations that focused on Mr Trump or his allies. In essence, former officials said, nobody is above the law except Mr Trump. In recent weeks, the FBI disbanded the Washington field office's elite federal public corruption squad, which was best known for investigating Mr Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, among other sensitive inquiries involving prominent government officials. The move, former and current agents say, suggests that investigations involving Mr Trump could be out of bounds. Those extend to inquiries that might ensnare senior Trump officials who used the Signal messaging app to discuss highly sensitive details of military strikes on Yemen in advance. The platform is not an approved, secure means of communicating sensitive national defence information. When new leaders take office, they inevitably want to put their own stamp on an agency. But some departures amount to a significant loss in expertise, including the abrupt retirement of an official running an office established in 2020 to uncover and reduce the risk of misuse of national security surveillance, arguably one of the bureau's most important intelligence gathering tools. Others, including a recent round of forced retirements and transfers, veer from traditional processes, former officials said. The bureau's webpage detailing the agency's leadership roles is in disarray, with employees who have left still listed as working there. Mr Patel has put other officials on administrative leave with pay, including two men who dealt with issues related to Hunter Biden's laptop, which Republicans have long insisted shows evidence of politicalisation. One of the men had already been disciplined for his work examining ties between Mr Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia before Mr Patel took over as director. 'Anyone out there who thinks we have not taken appropriate action against political actors, you – they're just making that up,' Mr Bongino said on 'Fox and Friends' last week. 'We can't go out and advertise this stuff.' Addressing the broader challenge of overseeing the bureau, Mr Bongino described the demands of making 'big, bold changes'. 'Part of you dies a little bit when you still see all this stuff from behind the scenes.' One FBI lawyer was removed from a key job overseeing human resources and notified while on medical leave. Others have been forced out of jobs, typically with no explanation. A succession of top agents, all women, were given an ultimatum: Take a different post or be asked to retire. A senior agent, who was until April in charge of intelligence at the Los Angeles field office, was asked to relocate to the FBI's campus in Huntsville, Alabama – where former officials said she would take on fewer responsibilities – or to retire. Similar scenarios have played out in San Diego; St. Louis; Jacksonville, Florida; and in Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama; as well as the Washington field office. In at least some cases, people were told to go because they held their positions at the director's discretion. It is not clear how Mr Patel is reaching these decisions, but former FBI officials say such removals would typically be set off by conduct that warranted being investigated or adjudicated, like a bad inspection or reports of misconduct. Under previous directors, special agents in charge, who typically lead field offices, were rarely removed. By one estimate, more than a half dozen were asked to transfer or face a demotion. Another wave of agents has been promoted to fill major jobs at headquarters and run field offices around the country, including St. Louis; Newark, New Jersey; Phoenix, Indianapolis and San Diego. Former officials praised some of the choices while they viewed others as less inspiring. To help fill those roles, Mr Patel has made exceptions, elevating assistant special agents in charge to the top spot at field offices. Such agents have not ascended to lead a section at headquarters – long considered the requisite to become a top agent in the field. In another unusual instance, he brought back a retired senior agent to oversee the counterterrorism division, which is typically stocked with a deep bench of veterans qualified to run it. Other agents and at least one top analyst have retired rather than risk being targeted by FBI leadership for causes embraced by conservative critics of the bureau. Testifying before senators about his agency's budget request in recent weeks, Patel said retirements were routine but did not affect the FBI. 'The good news is from the folks that I've met in the bureau, we've been able to retain significant levels of senior leadership both in Washington and throughout the country,' he said. The FBI's increasingly pervasive use of the polygraph, or a lie-detector test, has only intensified a culture of intimidation. Mr Patel has wielded the polygraph to keep agents or other employees from discussing a number of topics, including his decision-making or internal moves. Former agents say he is doing so in ways not typically seen in the FBI. Even though it is not admissible in court, a polygraph can be a powerful tool in supporting a criminal investigation or serious allegations of misconduct. Mr Jim Stern, who conducted hundreds of polygraphs while an FBI agent, said he used the tool in criminal and counterintelligence investigations and on applicants and security issues. Mr Stern said that if someone violated policy, the FBI could polygraph them. But if an agent who legitimately talked to the news media in a previous role had to take one, he said, 'that's going to be an issue'. 'I never used them to suss out gossip,' he said. At a recent meeting, senior executives were told that the news leaks were increasing in priority – even though they do not involve open cases or the disclosure of classified information. Former officials say senior executives, among others, were being polygraphed at a 'rapid rate.' In May, one senior official was forced out, at least in part because he had not disclosed to Mr Patel that his wife had taken a knee during demonstrations protesting police violence in the District of Columbia in 2020. The veteran agent retired, but not before passing a polygraph as part of Mr Patel's efforts to stanch leaks. He quickly found a job in the private sector. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Fear, polygraphs, and loyalty tests: Inside Kash Patel's controversial FBI overhaul
The FBI is undergoing a sweeping and controversial transformation under its new director, Kash Patel, appointed by President Donald Trump. According to a detailed report by The New York Times, Patel has forced out senior officials, ramped up the use of polygraph tests, and centralised control in an apparent effort to realign the bureau with the Trump administration's political agenda. Behind closed doors, Patel's aggressive shake-up is 'quietly taking shape,' with insiders describing a climate of fear and retaliation. 'The FBI has become so thoroughly compromised that it will remain a threat to the people unless drastic measures are taken,' Patel wrote in his book Government Gangsters, laying out his vision to dismantle and rebuild the agency's leadership structure. Multiple senior officials, including seasoned women agents leading field offices, have been given ultimatums: accept a demotion, relocate to less influential roles, or retire. In Los Angeles, a senior agent in charge of intelligence was reassigned to a low-profile post in Huntsville, Alabama. Similar incidents were reported in San Diego, St. Louis, Jacksonville, and Washington, per interviews with nearly a dozen current and former law enforcement officials. Dan Bongino, Patel's deputy and former right-wing media host, stated on social media: 'The director and I will have most of our incoming reform teams in place by next week… This will help us both in doubling down on our reform agenda.' The new leadership team is reportedly revisiting politically charged cases, including the 2022 Supreme Court leak, the discovery of cocaine at the White House, and pipe bombs near the Capitol on January 6. Bongino controversially referred to the latter as a case of 'public corruption' rather than domestic terrorism, echoing past podcast claims that the FBI was 'covering up' the incident. Agents have been put on administrative leave, often without explanation, as per the news report. Two officials connected to the Hunter Biden laptop case were reportedly sidelined — one of whom had previously been disciplined for his handling of the Trump-Russia investigation. A lawyer in charge of human resources was, as per the report, removed while on medical leave, while a senior official was reportedly forced out after Patel discovered his wife had kneeled in a 2020 protest against police violence — despite the official passing a polygraph and leaving with an unblemished record. Patel's FBI has increasingly relied on polygraphs to identify potential leakers — even for issues unrelated to classified information or open cases. 'I never used them to suss out gossip,' said Jim Stern, a former FBI agent who conducted hundreds of polygraphs. 'If an agent who legitimately talked to the news media in a previous role had to take one, that's going to be an issue.' Sources told The New York Times that executives are being polygraphed 'at a rapid rate.' A May incident involved a senior official forced out partly due to a political act by his spouse, raising concerns over loyalty tests within the bureau. Despite the turmoil, Patel reportedly insists the agency is stable: 'We've been able to retain significant levels of senior leadership both in Washington and throughout the country,' he told senators during a recent budget hearing.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Patel and Bongino draw scrutiny from MAGA World
FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino are finding their popularity as MAGA figures and some of their past brash statements are colliding head-on with the reality of running a major law enforcement agency. Patel and Bongino sat for a rare joint interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News's 'Sunday Morning Futures,' seeking to lay out their approach and quell simmering concerns among the MAGA faithful that they have insufficiently rooted out the deep state or found evidence of long-held conspiracy theories. Patel spoke about how his predecessors 'intentionally failed the American public' and pledged that declassifying documents related to the investigation into his 2016 campaign's potential ties to Russia would help 'restore the trust that was lost to the American public when it comes to the FBI.' But even Bartiromo seemed skeptical. 'With all due respect, we've been talking about this for a long time. And I've been demanding accountability for many, many years,' Bartiromo said, noting former FBI officials Jim Comey and Peter Strzok have yet to face serious repercussions. Comey was one of the officials named on Patel's list of 'deep state' figures in his 2022 book, 'Government Gangsters.' Patel told Bartiromo her criticism was fair, but noted he and Bongino only recently got into the FBI and faced issues with statutes of limitation. Both Patel and Bongino were celebrated picks among President Trump's base and the MAGA faithful. Patel's nomination sparked backlash among Democrats, particularly over his 'enemies list' of government officials in his book. The Senate voted to confirm him, 51-49, as all but two Republicans voted in favor. Bongino was tapped to serve as Patel's deputy in February, a position that does not require Senate confirmation. Trump and his allies liked that both were seen as government outsiders with strong, pro-Trump records who had openly spoken about dismantling the establishment and addressing what critics saw as the politicization of law enforcement. Patel, a former GOP congressional staffer and Trump national security aide, previously fought to declassify documents that would have undercut the FBI's probe into connections between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign. Bongino, a former police officer and Secret Service agent, hosted a radio show and podcast where he pushed conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, argued the FBI was 'corrupt' and suggested Democrats such as former President Biden should be in prison. Now that they're inside the government, the two have found that backing up their claims as private citizens is sometimes a difficult task. That was captured over the weekend, when Bongino and Patel plainly stated that notorious financier Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in prison. Epstein's death has been a subject of numerous conspiracy theories, with many Trump supporters and conservatives pushing claims that his death was not a suicide. 'I was asked about some of the details surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case. I have reviewed the case. Jeffrey Epstein killed himself. There's no evidence in the case file indicating otherwise,' Bongino posted on the social platform X after the interview. 'I'm not asking you to believe me, or not. I'm telling you what exists, and what doesn't. If new evidence surfaces I'm happy to reevaluate.' Shawn Ryan, a podcast host, told Tucker Carlson that he did not believe Bongino's answer. 'I've dug into that, and it's just so spooky what's going on with that,' Ryan said. Glenn Beck, a conservative firebrand, said while he supported both Bongino and Patel, he did not believe that the FBI had released sufficient evidence to prove Epstein's cause of death. The skepticism is a reflection of just how deeply embedded conspiracy theories are among portions of Trump's base, and how difficult it will be even for beloved figures such as Bongino and Patel to satisfy people who have waited years for some kind of bombshell. The FBI has racked up some notable wins in Patel's early months at the helm to satisfy Trump and his supporters. Trump signed a memo directing the declassification of FBI files related to the investigation into his 2016 campaign's potential ties to Russia. FBI agents arrested a Wisconsin-based judge amid an investigation into whether she tried to help a migrant lacking permanent legal status avoid arrest. Patel has been at the center of high-profile arrests of gang members and the extradition of a person with ties to the Abbey Gate bombing in 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed 13 U.S. soldiers. Federal authorities have also zeroed in on Comey after the former FBI director posted an image on social media with seashells laid out in the shape of '8647,' which some have interpreted as a threat against Trump. Patel has promised there's more to come, and the MAGA movement is sure to be watching. 'You're about to see a wave of transparency,' Patel told Bartiromo. 'What do you mean?' Bartiromo asked. 'Just give us about a week or two,' Patel responded. For Trump, there seems to be no problem that trade cannot fix. After India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire after intervention from the U.S., Trump signaled he appealed to both sides by promising to do more trade. The president suggested trade could be a key factor in reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran, and Monday, Trump indicated trade was top of mind as he sought to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. 'I'm using trade to settle scores and to make peace,' Trump told Fox News at the conclusion of his recent trip to the Middle East. Trade and dealmaking is central to Trump's brand, and it appears he has attempted to marry the two when it comes to foreign policy. Trump has made clear through his approach to tariffs that he believes trade can bring countries to the negotiating table, even beyond economic reasons. 'The basis upon which we are negotiating with the Iranians, our hope is that we can encourage them to show them a path towards prosperity and peace that allow them to develop their economy,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers Tuesday. But there is some cause for skepticism that Trump's trade-centric approach is effective. Russia has continued its military campaign in Ukraine, launching drone strikes even as Trump attempts to bring Moscow to the negotiating table and floats the threat of sanctions and the promise of more trade. Despite Trump's recounting of trade playing a central role in talks between India and Pakistan, a spokesperson for the Indian Foreign Ministry told reporters that the issue of trade 'didn't come up in any of these discussions. Iran's supreme leader has also downplayed the prospect of an imminent agreement with the U.S. on its nuclear capabilities, despite Trump's public optimism. 'We don't think it will lead to any outcome,' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said at a ceremony this week to honor the anniversary of former President Ebrahim Raisi's death. 'We don't know what will happen.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Patel and Bongino draw scrutiny from MAGA World
FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino are finding their popularity as MAGA figures and some of their past brash statements are colliding head-on with the reality of running a major law enforcement agency. Patel and Bongino sat for a rare joint interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News's 'Sunday Morning Futures,' seeking to lay out their approach and quell simmering concerns among the MAGA faithful that they have insufficiently rooted out the deep state or found evidence of long-held conspiracy theories. Patel spoke about how his predecessors 'intentionally failed the American public' and pledged that declassifying documents related to the investigation into his 2016 campaign's potential ties to Russia would help 'restore the trust that was lost to the American public when it comes to the FBI.' But even Bartiromo seemed skeptical. 'With all due respect, we've been talking about this for a long time. And I've been demanding accountability for many, many years,' Bartiromo said, noting former FBI officials Jim Comey and Peter Strzok have yet to face serious repercussions. Comey was one of the officials named on Patel's list of 'deep state' figures in his 2022 book, 'Government Gangsters.' Patel told Bartiromo her criticism was fair, but noted he and Bongino only recently got into the FBI and faced issues with statutes of limitation. Both Patel and Bongino were celebrated picks among President Trump's base and the MAGA faithful. Patel's nomination sparked backlash among Democrats, particularly over his 'enemies list' of government officials in his book. The Senate voted to confirm him, 51-49, as all but two Republicans voted in favor. Bongino was tapped to serve as Patel's deputy in February, a position that does not require Senate confirmation. Trump and his allies liked that both were seen as government outsiders with strong, pro-Trump records who had openly spoken about dismantling the establishment and addressing what critics saw as the politicization of law enforcement. Patel, a former GOP congressional staffer and Trump national security aide, previously fought to declassify documents that would have undercut the FBI's probe into connections between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign. Bongino, a former police officer and Secret Service agent, hosted a radio show and podcast where he pushed conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, argued the FBI was 'corrupt' and suggested Democrats such as former President Biden should be in prison. Now that they're inside the government, the two have found that backing up their claims as private citizens is sometimes a difficult task. That was captured over the weekend, when Bongino and Patel plainly stated that notorious financier Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in prison. Epstein's death has been a subject of numerous conspiracy theories, with many Trump supporters and conservatives pushing claims that his death was not a suicide. 'I was asked about some of the details surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case. I have reviewed the case. Jeffrey Epstein killed himself. There's no evidence in the case file indicating otherwise,' Bongino posted on the social platform X after the interview. 'I'm not asking you to believe me, or not. I'm telling you what exists, and what doesn't. If new evidence surfaces I'm happy to reevaluate.' Shawn Ryan, a podcast host, told Tucker Carlson that he did not believe Bongino's answer. 'I've dug into that, and it's just so spooky what's going on with that,' Ryan said. Glenn Beck, a conservative firebrand, said while he supported both Bongino and Patel, he did not believe that the FBI had released sufficient evidence to prove Epstein's cause of death. The skepticism is a reflection of just how deeply embedded conspiracy theories are among portions of Trump's base, and how difficult it will be even for beloved figures such as Bongino and Patel to satisfy people who have waited years for some kind of bombshell. The FBI has racked up some notable wins in Patel's early months at the helm to satisfy Trump and his supporters. Trump signed a memo directing the declassification of FBI files related to the investigation into his 2016 campaign's potential ties to Russia. FBI agents arrested a Wisconsin-based judge amid an investigation into whether she tried to help a migrant lacking permanent legal status avoid arrest. Patel has been at the center of high-profile arrests of gang members and the extradition of a person with ties to the Abbey Gate bombing in 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed 13 U.S. soldiers. Federal authorities have also zeroed in on Comey after the former FBI director posted an image on social media with seashells laid out in the shape of '8647,' which some have interpreted as a threat against Trump. Patel has promised there's more to come, and the MAGA movement is sure to be watching. 'You're about to see a wave of transparency,' Patel told Bartiromo. 'What do you mean?' Bartiromo asked. 'Just give us about a week or two,' Patel responded. For Trump, there seems to be no problem that trade cannot fix. After India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire after intervention from the U.S., Trump signaled he appealed to both sides by promising to do more trade. The president suggested trade could be a key factor in reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran, and Monday, Trump indicated trade was top of mind as he sought to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. 'I'm using trade to settle scores and to make peace,' Trump told Fox News at the conclusion of his recent trip to the Middle East. Trade and dealmaking is central to Trump's brand, and it appears he has attempted to marry the two when it comes to foreign policy. Trump has made clear through his approach to tariffs that he believes trade can bring countries to the negotiating table, even beyond economic reasons. 'The basis upon which we are negotiating with the Iranians, our hope is that we can encourage them to show them a path towards prosperity and peace that allow them to develop their economy,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers Tuesday. But there is some cause for skepticism that Trump's trade-centric approach is effective. Russia has continued its military campaign in Ukraine, launching drone strikes even as Trump attempts to bring Moscow to the negotiating table and floats the threat of sanctions and the promise of more trade. Despite Trump's recounting of trade playing a central role in talks between India and Pakistan, a spokesperson for the Indian Foreign Ministry told reporters that the issue of trade 'didn't come up in any of these discussions. Iran's supreme leader has also downplayed the prospect of an imminent agreement with the U.S. on its nuclear capabilities, despite Trump's public optimism. 'We don't think it will lead to any outcome,' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said at a ceremony this week to honor the anniversary of former President Ebrahim Raisi's death. 'We don't know what will happen.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democratic lawmaker clashes with FBI Director Patel over investigations
WASHINGTON – FBI Director Kash Patel and Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean got into a fiery exchange over his loyalty to President Donald Trump, as she accused him of apparent perjury and being "unfit" for his post while he fired back that she was "lying" about him. During a May 7 hearing on the FBI's budget, Dean accused Patel of helping the president weaponize the FBI and investigate his perceived enemies, including a Wisconsin judge charged with helping an undocumented immigrant. 'I am concerned that your eagerness and childlike giddiness to carry out the president's revenge tour, you have shown yourself to be unserious,' said Dean of Pennsylvania, who served as an impeachment prosecutor against Trump in his 2021 Senate trial after his first term. 'In your statements before you were sworn in and some after, you have shown yourself unfit to lead this important agency.' Dean also accused Patel of apparent perjury for testifying during his Senate confirmation hearing that he was unfamiliar with Stew Peters, an allegedly antisemitic Holocaust denier, despite appearing on Peters' podcast eight times. 'Should we worry more about your memory or your veracity?' Dean asked. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) questions Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel while holding a copy of his book, "Government Gangsters" during a hearing of the House Appropriations Committee's Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. Patel testified about the FBI's FY2026 budget request. Patel fired back that his book "Government Gangsters" didn't contain an 'enemies list' of people whom Trump should investigate. 'We should worry more about your lack of candor. You're accusing me of committing perjury? Tell the American people how I broke the law and committed a felony,' Patel said. 'Have the audacity to actually put the facts forward instead of lying for political banter so you can have a 20-second donation hit.' 'The answer is your failing, not me,' Patel added. Patel says he proposed $1 billion more than FBI than Trump The clash erupted during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Trump's budget blueprint for the FBI. Trump proposed a $545 million cut for the agency, for about $10.2 billion for the year starting Oct. 1. But Patel said he proposed a $500 million increase, to about $11.2 billion. Dean asked if Patel would confront Trump about the difference. 'In your proposal, you find a gulf of difference between you and the president,' Dean said. 'Are you going to go to the president and straighten out that gulf?' Patel said he would represent the American people, uphold the Constitution and ensure the FBI isn't weaponized. 'Maybe you should do the same,' said Patel, who told Dean that television cameras were waiting for her if she wanted to keep putting words in his mouth. Kash Patel, Director of the FBI, testifies in front of the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies in Washington, D.C., on May 7, 2025. 'This is an unserious moment for the FBI,' Dean replied as her time for questions ran out. 'More so for you,' Patel replied. Lawmakers complain about lack of details in FBI 'Ozempic' budget Lawkmakers repeatedly asked about the discrepancy between what Patel sought for FBI funding and what he said Trump's Office of Management and Budget sent in its proposal May 6 to Congress. The lack of detail led to its nickname as a 'skinny' budget, which Dean called an 'Ozempic budget,' but the administration plans to submit more details in the future. 'This is your budget,' said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn. 'You have to have some idea of what to fund or not fund.' Patel moving 1,000 agents, analysts out of headquarters to states Patel said if lawmakers adopted Trump's proposal, he would have to cut 1,300 staffers and not fill 1,100 vacancies. But he said he would fight for more funding in negotiations with Congress. 'At this time we have not focused on who to cut. We are focusing our energies on how not to do the cuts,' Patel said. 'What we're focusing on is working with our partners in OMB and appropriators to say that we cannot cover our mission at the levels that we would have to go to…should all the budget cuts be needed.' Kash Patel, Director of the FBI, testifies in front of the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies in Washington, D.C., on May 7, 2025. In addition to negotiations over funding, Patel said he was reducing staffing in the FBI headquarters region in Washington, D.C., as he said when he was nominated. He is moving 1,000 agents and analysts from the headquarters to regional offices in every state. The FBI has about 11,000 staffers in the D.C. region out of 35,000 total. Lawmakers were eager to hear who was getting greater staffing. Based on the proportion of violent crime per capita, Patel said Texas is slated to get 90 more FBI staffers, Missouri 37 and Virginia 20. 'I firmly believe putting people in the field is one of the ways we can secure our communities,' Patel said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democratic lawmaker clashes with FBI Director Patel over investigations
