Washington DC, USA — US’s Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Director Christopher Wray and the incoming Trump administration are preparing for a potential transition in FBI leadership, as President-elect Donald Trump has signalled intentions to bring new direction to the bureau, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions.
Among the names reportedly being floated as a possible replacement is Trump adviser Kash Patel, who is also under consideration for CIA director, sources revealed.
Wray, who was appointed to a 10-year term by Trump in 2017, has expressed his desire to complete his tenure.
However, according to a source close to the matter, he is preparing for the possibility of an exit if Trump’s team signals that they want new leadership at the FBI.
Trump has publicly criticised Wray and the FBI’s leadership for years, frequently accusing the bureau of political bias.
The president-elect campaigned on “cleaning house” at the FBI, a message that resonated with his supporters.
In recent months, Wray has continued to defend the FBI’s integrity. “As long as I think I can do that in a way that adheres to all those rules and norms, I’d like to keep doing it,” he told NBC News in April.
However, in July, tensions flared again when Trump demanded Wray’s resignation after a contentious hearing where Wray testified on security concerns, including an attempt on Trump’s life, in which the FBI confirmed that a bullet had grazed Trump’s ear.
The anticipated shake-up comes as Trump is actively appointing key figures to top roles in his new administration.
With Republicans set to take control of the Senate in January, confirming a new FBI director could be expedited, especially if the nominee aligns with Trump’s vision for the Justice Department.
Patel’s Rise and Vision for Reform
Kash Patel, a staunch Trump ally and former National Security Council staffer, has been a vocal critic of the Justice Department and intelligence agencies.
In his memoir, Government Gangsters, Patel advocates a “comprehensive housecleaning” across the Justice Department and FBI, with a focus on prosecuting officials who he claims misused their authority.
Patel’s record of publicly criticising these institutions, along with his past attempts to reform agency leadership, could make him a potent, if divisive, choice for either FBI or CIA leadership.
Patel previously served as a top official in the Defense Department and was a candidate for deputy CIA director during the Trump administration.
However, the nomination did not proceed after then-CIA Director Gina Haspel threatened to resign.
When asked about a potential CIA appointment during an interview with former White House adviser Steve Bannon last December, Patel stated, “We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in government but in the media … we’re putting you all on notice.”
Media and Legal Experts Warn of Potential Impact on Press Freedom
Trump’s expected shake-up of federal agencies, especially the intelligence community, has raised concerns among advocates for press freedom.
Patel’s mention of pursuing media figures who, in his view, “lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections” has sparked fears of legal challenges against journalists.
Sharon Moshavi, president of the International Center for Journalists, observed that threats to the press can come in subtle, compounding ways.
“It’s death by a thousand cuts,” Moshavi stated, noting that authoritarian-leaning governments have historically used indirect means to stifle press freedom.
The Challenges Ahead for Trump’s Nominees
If appointed, Patel or any new FBI director would require Senate confirmation, where the GOP holds a majority.
The confirmation process will be closely watched, with lawmakers expected to question candidates on their views of agency independence and approaches to perceived political bias within law enforcement.
The evolving discussions reflect the president-elect’s drive to bring in loyalists willing to implement his vision of accountability and reform, yet some experts suggest that the checks and balances in U.S. institutions may still act as safeguards.
Nonetheless, as Trump prepares to shape his administration, the focus on government agencies continues to draw scrutiny, both domestically and internationally.
