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1h ago

FBI Director Signals Support for Trump Budget After Initial Rejection

Kash Patel reverses stance on $545 million proposed cuts during Senate testimony, pledging to adapt to reduced funding despite earlier warnings of job losses.

FBI director Kash Patel testifies during a House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies budget hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 Request for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel testifies before the House Appropriations Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 07, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Overview

  • FBI Director Kash Patel initially opposed the White House’s proposed $545 million budget cut, warning of 1,300 layoffs and operational challenges.
  • During Senate testimony on May 8, Patel reversed his position, stating he would work within the proposed budget to meet the bureau’s mission requirements.
  • Patel faced criticism from lawmakers for failing to submit legally required fiscal 2025 spend plans and a detailed fiscal 2026 budget request.
  • The proposed cuts are part of a broader Trump administration effort to streamline the FBI, focusing on counterintelligence and counterterrorism while reducing non-law enforcement activities.
  • Congressional negotiations on final appropriations are expected to address concerns over funding levels, FBI reorganization, and its operational capacity.