Senate confirms Kash Patel as FBI Director 51-49, begins purging senior agents

The Senate confirmed Kash Patel as FBI Director on February 20, 2025, in a 51-49 vote, with Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining all Democrats in opposition. His three immediate predecessors had each received at least 92 confirmation votes. Patel immediately began removing senior agents connected to the Trump investigations, firing field office leaders and agents involved in the January 6 and Mar-a-Lago classified documents cases.