The pledge of elected President Donald Trump to bring changes to the U.S. government includes reforming one of the country’s key law enforcement and intelligence agencies: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Jeff Seldin, Voice of America’s National Security Correspondent, takes a look at the appointment made by Trump to lead and reform the FBI.
This announcement surprised many. FBI Director Christopher Wray told agency staff that he would step down once President-elect Donald Trump takes office. “It’s the best way to avoid problems. What absolutely cannot change is our commitment to doing the right thing, in the right way, every time,” he said. However, changes are coming. Kash Patel, selected by Trump to lead the FBI before Wray announced plans to end his 10-year term prematurely, met with lawmakers to help with his confirmation.
Patel, 44, is a former public defender and federal prosecutor who worked as a national security advisor and at the Pentagon during Trump’s first term. “I think Trump likes him for his views, which align with those of President Trump, on abuses in the Department of Justice, especially within the FBI and investigations that shouldn’t have happened,” says John Fortier from the American Enterprise Institute.
Patel has been outspoken about this. “I’m honored to be here, supporting Donald Trump. He’s a victim, but as a country, we’re an even greater victim of the unconstitutional transformation of justice into a weapon,” he said. Patel has angered opponents with statements about closing the FBI headquarters in Washington, reducing the FBI’s surveillance powers, and downsizing the agency’s intelligence operations.
He has also called for the dismantling of the so-called “deep state” system, and in his 2023 book Gangsters of Government, he mentions 60 officials who have disagreed with Trump. “Some changes he can make himself or after some personnel changes. But if he truly aims for major reforms, it requires more work from both the executive and legislative branches, meaning more time and commitment, not just from him,” says analyst Fortier.
According to Trump, Patel is the right person to at least initiate these changes.
