FBI Director Christopher Wray announced on Wednesday that he will step down next month, paving the way for President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee, Kash Patel, to take over as FBI chief. Patel, a staunch ally of Trump, has been a vocal critic of the so-called Deep State and has promised to take action against Trump’s adversaries, drawing criticism from many, including top officials from Trump’s first term.
Trump nominated Patel last month to succeed Wray, a position that requires Senate confirmation. While it was anticipated that Trump would replace Wray, who was appointed in 2017, Wray’s decision to resign with over two years remaining in his ten-year term allows Trump to avoid the political fallout of firing him.
Patel, a lawyer, briefly worked at the Justice Department during the Obama administration before joining the House under Trump. He served as senior counsel to former Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., during the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into the FBI’s Russia probe, which faced widespread criticism. Patel authored a controversial memo alleging FBI missteps in the investigation of Trump’s campaign ties to Russia.
After Democrats regained control of the House in 2018, Patel joined the Trump administration, serving in various roles including senior director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council, senior adviser for Trump’s directors of national intelligence, and chief of staff to acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller during Trump’s final months in office.
The Washington Post reported that Patel effectively led the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Pentagon, despite not holding the official titles. The Atlantic noted that Patel was focused on aligning with Trump’s policies and rhetoric, particularly in targeting the so-called Deep State.
Patel aimed to remove officials within intelligence agencies and support the Trump administration’s efforts to limit their power, often clashing with top officials who disagreed with Trump’s more extreme views and questioned Patel’s qualifications. Trump attempted to appoint Patel as deputy director of the CIA or FBI in his final months in office, but faced resistance from then-CIA Director Gina Haspel and then-Attorney General William Barr, who threatened to resign if the move proceeded. Barr reportedly stated that Patel would lead the FBI “over my dead body.”