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Epoch Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Director Patel Says He Disagrees With Trump on Proposed FBI Budget Cuts
FBI Director Kash Patel said during a May 7 Congressional hearing that the bureau needs more funding than the amount included in a budget proposal put forward by President Donald Trump, which would slash over half a billion dollars from the agency's budget. During the House Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing, Patel was asked by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) about the $545 million in spending cuts to the FBI in Trump's 'skinny budget' proposal for fiscal year 2026. Patel surprised DeLauro and other Democrats on the panel by expressing disagreement with the budget cuts put forward by the White House. 'The skinny budget is a proposal, and I'm working through the appropriations process to explain why we need more than what has been proposed,' Patel told DeLauro. Current funding for the FBI sits at around $10.7 billion. Under Trump's proposal, that amount would dip to $10.2 billion. Patel said he's working on increasing the budget beyond its current funding levels. 'So what do you need?' DeLauro asked. 'You need $11.2 billion? Related Stories 5/7/2025 4/30/2025 'Approximately,' Patel replied. Patel's proposal would be nearly $1 billion dollars beyond the amount proposed by Trump. The budget The White House proposal 'reflects the President's priority of reducing violent crime in American cities and protecting national security by getting FBI agents into the field by cutting FBI D.C. overhead and preserving existing law enforcement officers,' a statement accompanying the section on the FBI cuts said. The statement said that the budget reflects 'a new focus on counterintelligence and counterterrorism, while reducing non-law enforcement missions that do not align with the President's priorities.' Some of these 'non-law enforcement missions,' the White House said, included diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and redundant agencies that already effectively exist elsewhere. During her questions to Patel, DeLauro said that spending cuts at the levels proposed would necessitate cuts, and asked Patel which positions would be cut as a result of the White House budget. 'At this time, we have not looked at who to cut. We are focusing our energies on how not to have them cut, by coming in here and highlighting to you that we can't do the mission on those 2011 budget levels,' Patel replied. In a follow-up, Patel noted that the FBI had submitted an $11.1 billion budget request, in part in an effort to stave off any mass terminations. 'That's the proposed budget, not by the FBI. The proposed budget that I put forward is to cover us for $11.1 billion, which would not have us cut any positions,' he said. DeLauro was thrown by the response as top federal officials usually align with the White House's plans at such hearings. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) also expressed surprise at Patel's handling of the hearing. 'Mr. Patel, I'll tell you. I didn't support your nomination or your confirmation, but I appreciate what you're saying here today, especially since you offered to work with us in trying to address a lot of these concerns,' Ivey said. 'I think I appreciate what you said about the budget issue because if you're saying you think you need more than the skinny budget's giving, I strongly agree,' he added. In response to lawmakers, Patel indicated that increasing the agency's budget would be necessary to keep it running at full capacity on its law enforcement objectives. Ultimately, Congress will determine the spending levels in the 2026 budget in coordination with the White House. The issue won't be due until Sept. 30, the day a continuing resolution currently keeping the government funded will expire. In the interim, Patel will likely continue to make the case to the White House for increasing the agency's budget, though the outcome of the issue is uncertain. Prior to his elevation to the directorship of the agency, Patel was a critic of the bureau's leadership in recent years. Like Trump, Patel alleged weaponization within the agency against Republicans and conservatives. Patel has also long emphasized that he believed the FBI could be redeemed through reforms and a commitment to focusing on serious crime. Prior to the hearing, Patel announced in a press conference alongside Attorney General Pam Bondi that the government had arrested 205 suspected child sex predators in a five-day nationwide sweep. 'If you harm our children, you will be given no sanctuary,' Patel said at the press conference. 'There is no place we will not come to hunt you down. There is no place we will not look for you, and there is no cage we will not put you in, should you do harm to our children.'
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The president's policies are yet another betrayal of tribal communities
Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree1st DistrictDemocratMore than 100 tribal representatives and organizations will testify before the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee this week, in one of the largest collective testimonies by Native communities in recent committee weeks, I have been sounding the alarm on the devastating impacts that the Trump administration's policies are having on our communities—from our farmers and educators to our scientists and small businesses. I hope the tribal witnesses we'll hear from will share how this administration is affecting the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous people in their communities — and across the ranking member on this subcommittee, I'm very much looking forward to hearing directly from these leaders, experts, and advocates. I promise to listen to every word—every story, every perspective, every piece of analysis—and to do everything in my power to address the looming crises at we talk about the specific impacts of the administration's scorched-earth approach, it's important to understand how we got all the extreme actions taken by President Donald Trump since his inauguration, perhaps the most alarming was his decision on Jan. 27 to illegally freeze all federal funding—essentially stealing funds already approved by announcement threw the country into chaos and confusion. Small businesses and nonprofits would no longer receive the funding they'd been promised. Foreign aid ground to a halt. Hospitals couldn't access Medicaid Constitution clearly gives Congress the 'power of the purse.' Appropriations bills are not suggestions; they're laws. For the president to unilaterally pause all federal funding and grants—without the consent of Congress—is flagrantly illegal. And it sets an incredibly dangerous precedent for future the courts have blocked the president's illegal impoundment, it's already inflicting severe harm across Indian Health Service funds that provide lifesaving care couldn't be accessed. Grants for housing and education. Investments in clean drinking water and reliable roads. Lead testing in schools. Environmental justice programs. All are vital to improving lives—and empowering people. Every single one of them is now in if that weren't awful enough, the administration also announced a federal hiring freeze, meaning agencies like the IHS, Bureau of Indian Education, and Bureau of Indian Affairs — all of which are dealing with significant staff shortages — can't hire any new Friday, Feb. 14, we also witnessed the reckless and indiscriminate firing of thousands of probationary employees, which further imperils the provision of vital services to Indigenous communities — and undermines the federal government's ability to uphold its treaty and trust of the president's extreme actions, health care for millions of Native Americans and Alaska Natives and their general welfare now hangs in the these aren't the only Trump administration policies that threaten the safety and wellbeing of tribal president's executive orders targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, for example, will cause significant disruptions to federal programs that many Indigenous people rely on— from funding for tribal colleges and universities to federal contracts for Native businesses (despite the fact that tribal affiliation is considered a political classification; not a racial one).Meanwhile, the president's vocal support for school choice could result in funds being redirected from the Bureau of Indian Education, an agency that's already chronically most horrifying of all, this administration's immigration policies have shown an abhorrent disregard for the dignity of Native people — sweeping them up in ICE raids and using a blatantly unconstitutional effort to overturn the 14th Amendment to question their Native communities have endured too much — the sacrifice and suffering, the traumas and tragedies — for us to allow this kind of callous and cruel treatment to continue. To let this reckless administration trample their rights. Their sovereignty. Their dignity. To add even more broken promises to an already endless list of is why this week's congressional hearings are so important. By using this unique and powerful platform — in sharing the facts and data, their stories and experiences — tribal leaders and advocates can shine a much-needed spotlight on the profound damage the Trump administration is doing to our bearing witness to the pain and anger that so many are already experiencing, they'll help others better understand what's happening in their own upcoming hearings provide an opportunity for American Indians and Alaska Natives to have their voices heard — and to inspire their fellow Americans to do the Pingree never anticipated a life in politics. Living on the offshore island of North Haven, Maine, she raised her kids and ran a small business. She served on the school board and as the local tax assessor, a job no one else in town wanted. But in 1991, when she was approached about running for state Senate, she jumped at the chance. This opinion-editorial essay does not reflect the views of ICT; voices in our opinion section represent a variety of reader points of view. If you would like to contribute an essay to ICT, email opinion@ information about our guidelines: .
