President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Kashyap Patel, an Indian-American lawyer and former government official, as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Patel, 44, has been a vocal advocate for dismantling what he describes as the “deep state” within the U.S. government.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump’s social media platform, the former president praised Patel’s qualifications, calling him a “brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter” who has dedicated his career to exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people.
“Kash is exactly the kind of leader the FBI needs to restore its original mission,” Trump wrote. He also highlighted Patel’s pivotal role in the investigations surrounding the Russia probe, claiming that Patel was instrumental in exposing the “Russia Hoax.” Trump’s nomination of Patel signals his dissatisfaction with the current FBI leadership under Christopher Wray, whom he appointed in 2017.
Patel, a vocal critic of the FBI and its intelligence division, has long advocated for sweeping reforms to the agency. In a 2020 interview on the conservative Shawn Ryan Show, Patel outlined his vision for a radical overhaul of the FBI. He proposed dismantling its intelligence-gathering operations and repurposing the FBI’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“The biggest problem the FBI has is coming out of its intel shops,” Patel said. “I’d break that component out of it. I’d shut down the FBI Hoover Building on day one and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state. And I’d take the 7,000 employees that work in that building and send them across America to chase down criminals. You’re cops—go be cops.”
Patel’s vision for the FBI would include working closely with Trump’s proposed Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to restore what Trump has described as the agency’s original ethos: Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity.
Kashyap Patel’s Background
Born in Queens, New York, to parents of Gujarati descent who emigrated from East Africa, Patel began his career after earning his law degree. He worked as a public defender in Florida, representing clients in both state and federal courts. Later, he joined the Department of Justice, where he handled high-profile international terrorism cases involving East Africa and the United States.
Patel’s career took a significant turn when he joined the Department of Defense as a civilian lawyer. There, he worked with U.S. Special Operations Command on global counterterrorism operations. His work caught the attention of Congressman Devin Nunes, who recruited him as senior counsel for the House Intelligence Committee’s counterterrorism efforts.
Patel gained national prominence during Trump’s first term, particularly through his role in the Republican-led investigation into the FBI’s handling of the Russia probe. He played a key role in drafting the controversial GOP memo, which alleged political bias in the FBI’s investigation of Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Dubbed the “Kash Memo” by the New York Times, the document became a flashpoint in the partisan battle over the Russia investigation.
Patel later served as Chief of Staff to the Acting Secretary of Defense, where he continued to influence national security policy. His tenure, however, was marked by accusations that he acted as an unauthorized backchannel in dealings with Ukraine, a matter that stirred controversy during his time at the Pentagon.