Overview

• Kash Patel has ousted or forced the retirement of dozens of senior FBI officials, reassigning others without clear explanations.
• The bureau has expanded polygraph exams to investigate leaks and test loyalty, even in matters unrelated to open investigations.
• Deputy director Dan Bongino has deployed reform teams and shifted the agency’s focus toward immigration enforcement and politically charged probes.
• The rapid departures have left the FBI’s leadership directory outdated and raised concerns over lost institutional knowledge.
• Despite internal upheaval, Patel told a Senate panel that senior leadership retention has remained strong and the agency is stable.