Kash Patel Overhauls FBI on Day One, Moves Agents Out of D.C. Swamp [WATCH]

Newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel wasted no time in making sweeping changes to the bureau, ordering 1,000 agents into the field and relocating 500 employees from Washington, D.C., to the FBI’s facility at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.

Patel, who was sworn in as the 9th Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Friday, made it clear that accountability and restoring public trust in the agency would be his top priorities.

Shortly after taking the oath of office, Patel addressed his plans to reshape the FBI and ensure it adheres to constitutional oversight.

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“I promise you the following… There will be accountability in the FBI and outside of the FBI, and we will do it through rigorous constitutional oversight starting this weekend,” Patel stated.

WATCH: Kash Patel’s full remarks after being sworn in as FBI Director:

“Anyone who thinks the American Dream is dead, look right here. You’re talking to a first-generation Indian kid who is about to lead the law enforcement community in the greatest nation on God’s Earth.” pic.twitter.com/PQrCkme9az

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 21, 2025

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One of his first moves was to shake up the Washington Field Office, transferring 500 employees to Huntsville as part of a broader effort to decentralize the agency’s operations.

NBC News reporter Ken Dilanian reported on Patel’s orders, stating:

“FBI Director Kash Patel is ordering 1,000 agents at headquarters into the field—and another 500 employees must move from D.C. to the FBI’s facility in Huntsville, AL, current and former FBI officials tell NBC News. There are around 7,300 employees working in the Hoover building, most of them non-agents.”

New: FBI Director Kash Patel is ordering 1,000 agents at headquarters into the field—and another 500 employees must move from D.C. to the FBI’s facility in Huntsville, AL, current and former FBI officials tell NBC News. There are around 7,300 employees working in the Hoover…

— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) February 21, 2025

Prior to being sworn in, Patel sent a letter to FBI personnel emphasizing his commitment to rebuilding public trust in the bureau and refocusing on core law enforcement duties.

“I am honored to have been nominated and confirmed as your new Director,” Patel wrote in the letter, which was obtained by Fox News.

He acknowledged his background in government service and national security, stating:

“While I’m new to the Bureau’s ranks, I’ve spent my career in government service and the past decade in national security, working shoulder to shoulder with the FBI and many of its partners throughout the law enforcement and intelligence communities. My commitment has always been — and always will be — to pursuing justice and upholding the rule of law, and I look forward to continuing that commitment alongside all of you.”

Patel outlined two primary objectives in his letter: ensuring the safety of American citizens and restoring faith in the FBI.

“First is to provide you with the tools and resources you need to keep our communities safe. This will include streamlining our operations at Headquarters while bolstering the presence of field agents across the nation and collaborating even more closely with our essential partners in state and local law enforcement,” he stated.

Regarding transparency and accountability, Patel emphasized the importance of working with Congress and maintaining constitutional integrity.

“Second is to ensure we rebuild the American people’s trust in the FBI. We’ll do that by committing ourselves to full transparency with the people’s representatives in Congress and by upholding the highest standards in all that we do, ensuring rigorous obedience to the Constitution and a single standard of justice for all.”

Patel reassured FBI employees of his dedication to their work, acknowledging their role in protecting the country.

“I know that you, the dedicated men and women of the FBI, are courageous warriors of justice,” he said.

He concluded by pledging his support to the agency’s workforce:

“I will always have your backs, because you have the backs of the American people. I look forward to serving with you in the years to come.”

With Patel’s immediate actions and firm stance on accountability, his tenure as FBI Director is already shaping up to be a significant shift for the bureau.

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