FBI Director Kash Patel informed lawmakers on Wednesday that the White House’s proposed budget cuts for federal law enforcement agencies were approximately $1 billion less than what the bureau had requested. Patel urged Congress to approve additional funding to address the shortfall. The White House’s budget proposal includes a $545 million reduction in the FBI’s budget as part of President Trump’s efforts to reduce federal spending by $163 billion. Patel emphasized the importance of securing more funding to prevent cuts to FBI staff. He disclosed that the bureau had initially sought $11.1 billion for its law enforcement activities, a figure $1 billion higher than the White House proposal. This discrepancy highlights a rare public disagreement between the FBI and the White House on budget matters. Patel emphasized the need for adequate funding to combat violent crime and terrorism. In addition, questions have been raised regarding Patel’s use of a government airplane for personal travel, prompting scrutiny from the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Patel’s active presence on social media, where he has shared photos of attending sports events and meeting celebrities, has drawn attention to his travel activities. Flight-tracking data shows FBI planes making trips to various locations, including Nashville and New York City, raising questions about the nature of these travels. Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro expressed concern that the proposed budget could effectively defund law enforcement. The FBI spokesperson stated that all ethical guidelines are strictly followed, but questions remain about the purpose of certain trips.
and Andrew Goudsward; edited by Deepa Babington
