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By Andrew Stanton
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The Senate voted to confirm Kash Patel as FBI director on Thursday, tightening President Donald Trump's control of the federal government.
Why It Matters
Patel was among a handful of Trump's Cabinet picks who received heavy criticism from Republicans. But pushback and concerns from a few GOP moderates couldn't overcome their 53-47 majority in the Senate—a reflection of Trump's influence on the party.
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His confirmation tightens Trump's grip on the federal government, placing a staunch loyalist in charge of the federal law enforcement agency of which Trump has been highly critical. While there are still a few Cabinet picks yet to be confirmed, those nominations are less likely to face strong opposition in the Senate.
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What To Know
Only two Republicans voted against Patel's nomination—Senators Susan Collins of Maine, who is expected to face a potentially tough reelection race in a state that voted for Vice President Kamala Harris last year, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. All Democrats voted no on Patel.
Patel has faced higher scrutiny from Trump critics than most other Cabinet picks. Democrats raised concerns about his list of enemies and whether they could be targeted by the FBI if he were to be confirmed. He has also faced criticism over his alleged ties to Russia, and Senate Democrats accused him of perjuring himself during his confirmation hearing.
None of Trump's Cabinet picks brought to a vote have failed so far, despite concerns from even some Republican senators.
In the toughest confirmation battle so far, three Republicans—Collins, Murkowski and Senator Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican—voted against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but Vice President JD Vance served as the tiebreaking vote.
Other nominees faced little pushback from Republican senators.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced only one Republican "no" vote, from McConnell, a survivor of childhood polio who raised concerns about Kennedy's position on vaccines. Other Republicans, despite disagreement with his past statements on abortion and vaccines, declined to vote against him.
McConnell was also the only Republican to vote against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's nomination.
Patel will now lead the FBI, which became a target of Trump's ire after investigations into him after he left the White House in 2021. Trump has sought to shake up the FBI and Justice Department over the investigations, which focused on the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol and whether he mishandled classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump has demanded the names of FBI agents involved in those investigations so they could potentially be removed, the Associated Press reported in January.
Patel may now have the ability to reshape the FBI. He has said he would "come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections" in an interview with Steve Bannon and has supported reducing the size of the agency, AP reported.
What People Are Saying
Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, on the Senate floor: "Today the Senate is on track to confirm Kash Patel as director of the FBI. Think about that statement for a moment. Kash Patel, conspiracy theorist, January 6 denier, MAGA sycophant and political provocateur, will be FBI director. The absurdity of it. The destructive consequences of it. It's worth asking today, how did we get here, to such an extreme point? To this moment when someone so patently unqualified, really disqualified from any position of any position of responsibility, is poised to become director of the nation's preeminent law enforcement agency?"
Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, in a statement: "While Mr. Patel has had 16 years of dedicated public service, his time over the past four years has been characterized by high profile and aggressive political activity. Mr. Patel has made numerous politically charged statements in his book and elsewhere discrediting the work of the FBI, the very institution he has been nominated to lead."
Senator John Curtis, a Utah Republican, on X, formerly Twitter: "Americans expect to see change within the FBI, and I believe Kash Patel can deliver that. My primary concern with his nomination was ensuring he would approach the role without political bias—an essential quality for any FBI Director. After careful consideration, I plan to vote yes on his confirmation."
What Happens Next
Other Trump Cabinet picks are unlikely to face tough confirmation battles. Linda McMahon, tapped to lead the Department of Education, and Representative Elise Stefanik, the New York Republican picked by Trump as United Nations ambassador, are expected to have easy confirmations.
Former Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump's labor secretary pick, may face backlash from some Republicans like Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who already said he is a "no" on her. But her more moderate record may win over a few Democrats who haven't ruled out supporting her.
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