FBI Director Kash Patel is facing growing internal backlash as dozens of current and former bureau officials accuse him of mismanaging the agency and prioritizing optics over investigations.
According to accounts shared with the New York Times, at least 45 agents, executives, and officials have privately voiced concerns about Patel’s leadership since President Donald Trump returned to office.
Multiple sources said morale inside the FBI has suffered as agents question Patel’s judgment, decision-making, and focus during major national security moments.
Several officials criticized Patel’s decision to reassign experienced agents away from criminal investigations and toward immigration enforcement operations.
Others raised concerns about his frequent use of a taxpayer-funded government jet for personal travel involving his girlfriend, country music singer Alexis Wilkins.
One senior executive described a pattern of behavior suggesting Patel is more interested in controlling public perception than running investigations.
That criticism intensified after a reported incident during a Five Eyes intelligence conference in the United Kingdom involving allied agencies from the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
According to one executive, Patel was unhappy with holding classified meetings in an office and instead pushed for informal settings tied to entertainment.
Staff members allegedly said Patel wanted meetings centered around Premier League soccer matches, helicopter tours, jet skiing, and sightseeing rather than intelligence briefings.
The same source claimed that trip planning revolved heavily around Patel’s meals, workout schedule, and arranging access for Wilkins to visit Windsor Castle.
Wilkins has been a recurring source of controversy inside the bureau, with allegations ranging from excessive security spending to her involvement in FBI travel, per the Daily Mail.
She has also been targeted by online conspiracy theories accusing her of acting as a foreign intelligence asset, claims both she and Patel have denied.
Internal frustration deepened following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a college event in Utah last year.
Patel initially posted online that a suspect had been detained, only to walk back the claim shortly afterward.
Former FBI intelligence section chief John Sullivan said Patel likely announced unverified information prematurely, calling it an amateur mistake.
Several officials said Patel and then Deputy Director Dan Bongino were consumed with managing social media responses instead of directing the investigation.
One senior executive described a conference call in which Patel and Bongino scripted posts in real time while critical operational decisions were left unaddressed.
The source said Patel became emotional and fixated on messaging, pushing out information that had not been vetted for accuracy.
Another official recalled Patel telling staff that controlling the narrative was the most important element of any crisis.
Despite the criticism, President Trump has publicly defended Patel and dismissed reports that he may be replaced.
White House officials have labeled the backlash fake news, and Trump has repeatedly praised Patel’s performance.
