By Okon Ekpenyong

The US Senate has approved Kashyap Patel as the new Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Patel previously held the Director of National Intelligence position, making him the first Indian-American to have held both esteemed roles.

Kashyap Pramod Vinod Patel, a New York City native born to Indian immigrants in Garden City, lived in Uganda before moving to Canada but eventually settled in the US. He earned his law degree in 2005 and began working as a public defender in 2006, representing individuals accused of serious crimes. Later, he became a trial lawyer with the US Department of Justice’s National Security Division and advanced to special counsel on counterterrorism for the House Intelligence Committee. Patel has collaborated with top officials, including during the Trump administration, and served as an informal Ukraine policy specialist amid the Ukraine scandal.

The Director oversees the nation’s premier federal investigative agency, aiding in missing person cases, supporting efforts to track down the Most Wanted Criminals in America, and helping local law enforcement agencies investigate serious federal law violations. Furthermore, the department upholds national security by enforcing federal laws and managing the priorities of the FBI.

Patel’s confirmation has received a mixed response. For instance, one person stated, “This is the only appointment by Trump that I struggle to accept.”. During his confirmation hearings, he was accused of perjury multiple times. The only purpose of his appointment is to carry out Trump’s vendetta. I am bewildered by my party’s current state as a longstanding Republican.”

In contrast, some lauded the decision, with a supporter proclaiming, “Excellent appointment! This will assist in cleaning up our Government. President Trump has performed remarkably well in just four weeks. We should thank the ‘haters’ and ‘jealous’ people for their support. God bless America!”

However, not all are satisfied with the current Administration. A critic expressed, “It disgusts me that we have a president who has lied over 30,000 times in his first term and surrounds himself with convicted felons. His promises of making America great again are a sham; he is genuinely harming our country.”

Another voice remarked, “A cowardly group. They allow competent workers to be terminated while bringing in unqualified individuals.”

On a larger scale, one commentator pondered how history would assess this moment, remarking, “Fools. Someday, history will view these actions unfavorably—other nations will learn about this era when the greatest country succumbed to power and greed.”

Following Patel’s confirmation, various cabinet members, including Scott Turner (Secretary of Housing and Urban Development), US Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Lee Zeldin, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Secretary of Veterans Doug Collins, praised a few of the actions taken by the Trump-Vance administration thus far and said, “We’ve eliminated DEI (Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion). And bringing back merit-based systems—the true American way.”

Since Trump’s executive orders to remove DEI from the Federal Government, federal agencies have been shifting away from diversity initiatives, reflecting similar trends in educational establishments and businesses nationwide.

The official website of the White House announced, “CONGESTION PRICING IS GONE. Manhattan, and the entirety of New York, is rescued! Hail to the king!” This indicates that all of Trump’s appointments are going great so far, significant federal budget reductions have occurred, and Trump continues to assert that he is the new Sheriff in town. In other words, Promise Made, Promise Keep is a statement many use to describe how the administrations are doing so far. 

Though public opinion remains mixed regarding the Administration’s policy changes, this proclamation emphasizes the Administration’s commitment to significant policy changes.

Earlier this week, former US Senator Kelly Loeffler from Georgia was appointed as the next Small Business Administrator, and the White House reaffirmed President Trump’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and reducing bureaucratic hurdles. Similarly, Howard Lutnick was appointed Commerce Secretary, emphasizing the Administration’s drive for economic growth.

Every one of Trump’s appointments has been confirmed to date, including the announcement on February 13 regarding Brooke Rollins being named Secretary of Agriculture, which reflects Trump’s goal of supporting farmers and enhancing rural communities.

Patel said during his Senate confirmation hearing that the FBI would not be politicized and that he would not take retributive actions. However, the Democratic legislators selectively quote his previous statements; he asserted, “Snippets of information can often be misleading.” Even though Patel emphasized that he would follow FBI regulations, 45 (plus two Independent) Democrats who voted no for Patel and two Republicans say that the future will ultimately determine whether he will keep these assurances.”

The confirmation of Kashyap Patel is a crucial turning point in the history of the FBI, eliciting intense opinions and creating doubts about the agency’s future and direction.

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