President Donald Trump's nominee for FBI Director, Kash Patel, has cleared a significant hurdle in the Senate confirmation process. On February 18, 2025, the Senate voted 48-45 along party lines to advance Patel's nomination, allowing for full debate and a subsequent confirmation vote expected later this week.
Senate Democrats postponed a committee vote on President Donald Trump's nominee for FBI Director, Kash Patel, moving the decision to the following week.
Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday on Fox News that the Democrats are now “terrified” and “freaking out” after they failed to land a “single blow” during Kash Patel’s confirmation hearing for FBI director.
During his Senate confirmation hearing on January 30, 2025, Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's nominee for FBI Director, committed to halting the agency's surveillance of religious institutions, particularly Christian congregations.
Paul Abbate, the acting FBI director, announced his unexpected retirement on Monday, just minutes before President Donald Trump was sworn into office. Abbate had been deputy director under Christopher Wray, who recently stepped down after more than seven years as FBI director. Abbate’s sudden departure comes after just one day at the helm of the agency, leaving questions about interim leadership.
Attorneys General from 20 states are calling on the U.S. Senate to quickly confirm three nominees proposed by President-elect Donald Trump for key national security positions. The nominees include Governor Kristi Noem (R-SD) for Secretary of Homeland Security, Pam Bondi for Attorney General, and Kash Patel for FBI Director. The officials emphasize the urgency of assembling a strong national security team given current challenges.
