After weeks of controversy and delays, the U.S. Senate officially confirmed Kash Patel as the next Director of the FBI on Thursday afternoon by a vote of 51-49.
Patel, a long-time ally of President Trump, faced a more difficult confirmation process than the majority of nominees with two Republicans Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voting against his nomination in unison with Democrats.
Alabama’s two U.S. Senators cast their vote for Patel and congratulated him on becoming the leader of the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency shortly thereafter.
U.S. Senator Katie Britt commended Patel and expressed her readiness to begin working with him to strengthen national security.
“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,” Britt (R-Montgomery) said.
“Today, I was proud to vote to confirm Kash Patel to lead the FBI.” “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.”
Confirming President Trump’s nominees has been a priority since Day One for our GOP Senate Majority.
Proud to support @Kash_Patel today!
— Katie Britt (@KatieBrittforAL) February 20, 2025
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) said that Patel is “going to clean up the FBI and ensure our government works for the PEOPLE again.”
Congratulations Director @Kash_Patel on your confirmation to lead the FBI.
He’s going to clean up the FBI and ensure our government works for the PEOPLE again, not the other way around. pic.twitter.com/zKqZ6tSOOf
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) February 20, 2025
As Director, Patel will now be in charge of a $2.2 billion annual budget and approximately 38,000 FBI employees.
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
