Governance

Veteran Agent Takes Acting FBI Director Role as Patel Awaits Confirmation

Published JAN 21 2025

Story

Above: Pres.-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be FBI Director, Kash Patel, walks to a meeting in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Dec. 12, 2024 in Washington, DC. Image credit: Kevin Dietsch/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

On Monday, Pres. Donald Trump appointed Brian Driscoll, who previously commanded the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team and was recently named special agent in charge of the Newark field office, to serve as acting director pending the Senate confirmation of Trump nominee Kash Patel.
ap
FOX News
This comes after former FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate unexpectedly retired after a 28-year career, departing just one day after becoming acting director following Director Christopher Wray's exit on Sunday.
CBS News
ap
Driscoll then appointed Robert Kissane, a top counterterrorism official from the New York office, to serve as acting deputy director.
ap
Patel, who previously worked in the first Trump administration and as a federal prosecutor, is reportedly likely to be confirmed by the Republican majority Senate, though when that will occur is unknown.
Defense One
The Hill
Patel spoke during post-inauguration festivities Monday, expressing support for Pres. Trump and affirming his commitment to advancing law and order policies.
NBC

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Democratic narrative

The abrupt leadership changes and nomination of a Trump loyalist who has criticized FBI leadership raise concerns about the bureau's independence. Patel's statements suggesting potential retribution against Trump's adversaries should alarm every American. Even if he were nonpartisan, his resume lacks the prerequisites required to run an agency with 37K personnel.

MS Now

Republican narrative

The FBI needs fresh leadership to restore public trust and end political witch-hunts. Kash Patel's experience as a terrorism prosecutor and previous government service makes him well-qualified to lead the bureau back to its core mission. His desire to rid the agency of corruption is the opposite of partisan — he wants to reinstate it as a law enforcement entity, not a political one.