Kash Patel | FBI gets its first Indian-American chief

"Mission First. America Always. Let's get to work," Kash Patel said as he began his tenure as the ninth FBI Director.

Washington: The Republican-led US Senate confirmed Kash Patel as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), making him the first Indian-American to head the premier investigating agency. Patel was confirmed in a 51-49 vote. A staunch loyalist of President Donald Trump, Patel makes history as not only the FBI's first Indian-origin Director but also the first Asian-American to hold the position, doubly securing his place in history.

"I am honored to be confirmed as the ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation," Patel wrote in the first post on X with the handle "FBI Director Kash Patel". "The FBI has a storied legacy -- from the "G-Men" to safeguarding our nation in the wake of 9/11. The American people deserve an FBI that is transparent, accountable, and committed to justice. The politicalization of our justice system has eroded public trust -- but that ends today."

"My mission as Director is clear: let good cops be cops -- and rebuild trust in the FBI. Working alongside the dedicated men and women of the Bureau and our partners, we will rebuild an FBI the American people can be proud of."

"And to those who seek to harm Americans -- consider this your warning. We will hunt you down in every corner of this planet. Mission First. America Always. Let's get to work."

Kashyap Pramod Vinod Patel, commonly known as Kash Patel, is an American lawyer. He was born in New York’s Garden city to parents who migrated from India. He succeeds Christopher Wray, also a Trump nominee, for a term that is supposed to last 10 years but hasn't in recent years. Two of his immediate predecessors did not complete their tenure.

Wray resigned on Trump's election with two years still left of his 10-year term and his predecessor James Comey had completed only four of his 10 years when Trump fired him in 2017.

Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, were against Patel's appointment, as the vote was split along party lines. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Patel promised that the FBI would remain free from politics and that there would be no acts of revenge. He accused Democrats of taking his past comments out of context. He said, “Snippets of information are often misleading,” CNN reported.

Patel has also previously served within the US government during Trump’s first term in the White House. He served as a senior aide on the House Intelligence Committee, where he was instrumental in challenging investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. During Trump’s first term, he held positions on the National Security Council and as Chief of Staff to the Acting Secretary of Defense.