Encyclopedia · Biography
Kash Patel
Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Personal / institutional details
- Full name
- Kashyap Pramod Patel
- Education
- University of Richmond; Pace University law degree (per available biographical accounts)
- Government roles
- DOJ prosecutor; House Intelligence staff; NSC; acting deputy DNI; Pentagon chief of staff
- FBI Director
- February 2025–present
Kash Patel is an American attorney and government official who became the ninth director of the FBI in February 2025.
Professional background
Patel began legal work in Florida and served as a Justice Department prosecutor before working for the House Intelligence Committee, National Security Council, Office of the Director of National Intelligence and Department of Defense. The FBI’s official biography lists several national-security and counterterrorism roles.
FBI leadership
Patel became director in February 2025 and was sworn in by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Media personality Dan Bongino served as deputy director in 2025 before departing in January 2026. The FBI is a Justice Department component, now under Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Evidence boundaries
Questions about the FBI’s treatment of investigations, high-profile defendants or corporate scandals must be analyzed using the agency’s jurisdiction, actual filings and documented decisions. Silence about a specific public allegation is not evidence of personal financial interest.
References
Where this subject appears in The Story
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Documented connections
These are specifically described relationships in public records. A shared institution, appointment or event does not by itself demonstrate coordination or wrongdoing.
- Dan Bongino (person) — FBI director/deputy: Patel served as FBI director while Bongino was deputy director · 2025–January 2026
- Donald Trump (person) — nomination and prior presidential administration: Trump named Patel FBI director; Patel also held first-term executive-branch roles · 2017–2020; 2025–present
- Pam Bondi (person) — DOJ/FBI oversight and appointment: Bondi swore Patel in as FBI director, and the FBI operated within her Justice Department · 2025–2026
- Todd Blanche (person) — DOJ/FBI statutory hierarchy: Attorney general leads DOJ; FBI is directed by Kash Patel · since August 2026
- United States Department of Justice (organization) — FBI institutional relationship: FBI is component of DOJ, Patel serving as director from February 2025 · since 2025