Senate confirms Kash Patel as FBI director

February 20, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate on voted to confirm Kash Patel as the FBI's ninth director. 51 Republicans Senators voted to confirm Patel as head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Kurkowski (R-Alaska) voted with all Senate Democrats against Patel's confirmation. Patel is a close ally of President Donald J Trump (R). He has long criticized the FBI and its failed investigations into President Trump.

U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Alabama) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) both voted to confirm Patel. Britt is the Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"As Republicans continue to confirm President Trump's nominees at the fastest pace in decades, there is no priority more urgent than getting his national security team in place. Today, I was proud to vote to confirm Kash Patel to lead the FBI," said Senator Britt. "At the helm of the FBI, Director Patel will return the agency's focus to protecting the American people from terrorists, hostile foreign actors, and violent criminals. Under his leadership, the days of weaponizing the agency to target Americans for their political beliefs are over. I look forward to being a partner to Director Patel and President Trump to put U.S. national security first and help make America safe again."

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) also met with Patel. He has been a staunch advocate for Patel and the Trump cabinet picks.

"Congratulations Director @Kash_Pate," Sen. Tuberville said on his X social media account. "He's going to clean up the FBI and ensure our government works for the PEOPLE again, not the other way around."

Thousands of FBI agents and analysts are based in Alabama, particularly Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

In Britt's meeting with Patel in December, she voiced her support for his nomination as well as their shared appreciation for Alabama's role-especially through Redstone Arsenal-in keeping America safe.

"Kash and I discussed how FBI Redstone in Huntsville is in prime position to be an invaluable partner in achieving this shared goal," said Britt. "The FBI's operations on Redstone Arsenal are at the forefront of 21st-century innovation and training needed to combat the threats of the future, and I am confident Redstone will be instrumental in fulfilling the FBI's core mission for decades to come."

"Kash Patel is the right man to do [the] job," said Tuberville in a speech on the Senate floor. "He's qualified and has an impressive resume. He served in several national security and intelligence roles, as [a] federal prosecutor, and as a public defender. Not only is Kash qualified, but he also has the courage and the resolve needed to restore our faith in the FBI. Despite the media's lies, Kash won't have his enemies list when he takes a job, unlike the Biden administration. If crimes are committed, he will open an investigation, follow facts wherever they lead. No bias, no partiality."

"Kash will bring back truth and transparency, uphold the rule of law and the Constitution, and protect Americans against its enemies, foreign, and domestic," continued Tuberville. "He will ensure that the government works for the American people and not the other way around."

In Patel's confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Britt again extended him an invitation to visit Alabama's state-of-the-art FBI facilities.

"The workforce occupying these facilities, they were moved from D.C. to Huntsville," explained Britt. "They are working diligently each and every day to make sure that men and women in uniform are the best trained, equipped, and ready that there is. And I would love a commitment from you just to come with me to visit those facilities-see what those men and women are doing, what they're learning, and all of the training that's right there at their fingertips."

Patel committed to visiting Redstone Arsenal and filling open FBI jobs in Huntsville.

"Senator, you have that commitment," Patel said. "And this is a great example, real quick, of the FBI's capabilities and infrastructure systems around the country that already exist to the tune of billions. And not only is it, I believe, a 38,000-acre sprawling campus . . . but 4,000 seats remain open. So, let's go to work. I'll come to Alabama. Let's fill those seats."

Patel is a staunch ally of President Donald Trump who has called for profound changes at the FBI.