New FBI Director Kash Patel’s Unconventional Start Raises Eyebrows

News
Alexis N. Crockett
March 2, 2025
9 minutes read

Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images

Newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel wasted no time making significant changes since taking over the agency. His swift and sometimes unconventional decisions have sparked curiosity and raised eyebrows among officials and the public alike.

A report by The Wall Street Journal detailed Patel’s first priorities. “He told officials he planned to spend a lot of time in Las Vegas, where he was living last year,” the report stated. Additionally, Patel has made adjustments to his workspace in Washington, ordering new office decor and requesting access for his personal trainer to enter the FBI headquarters for his workouts.

While past FBI directors have typically avoided social engagements to maintain impartiality, Patel appears to be taking a different approach. On Wednesday, he attended a gathering at the British ambassador’s residence in Washington, an event that past directors might have skipped to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

Patel is also seeking to change the FBI’s dress code culture. “I’m not planning on wearing a suit, and I don’t expect you to wear one,” he told agents, according to the Journal’s report. In a surprising move, Patel has also taken on an additional role overseeing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Kash Patel — JosE luis Villegas/ASSOCIATED PRESS

However, Justice Department officials have yet to clarify how he intends to manage both agencies simultaneously. News Nation reported that this decision has cast uncertainty over the future of the ATF, a component of the Justice Department. Patel has long been vocal about restructuring the FBI, even stating in a podcast that he intended to empty out the headquarters on “Day 1” and reassign agents across the country.

Although President Donald Trump’s administration has not confirmed plans to shut down the D.C. headquarters, Patel wasted no time enacting changes. On his first day, he ordered 1,500 agents to be relocated to cities experiencing high crime rates.

However, this directive met immediate resistance. “Another FBI official piped in with a harsh reality, according to people familiar with the exchange: Each move could cost up to $100,000, and the bureau didn’t have the funds to cover such a restructuring,” an official told the Journal.

Adding to the list of unexpected proposals, Patel is reportedly considering a partnership between the FBI and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a move that has left many questioning the direction of the agency under his leadership. As Patel’s tenure begins, his unorthodox approach to leadership continues to generate both intrigue and debate within Washington and beyond.