This was the last of the “big” and “controversial” confirmations, but it has happened. Kash Patel has been confirmed as the new director of the FBI.

The vote was close, but did not require a tiebreaker vote from Vice President Vance.

Patel was opposed by a pair of Republican senators: Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski and Maine’s Susan Collins. But he won support from every other Republican, including Sen. Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, who had opposed some of Trump’s other nominees. The final vote was 51-49, with all Senate Democrats opposing Patel.

While Collins and Murkowski did their thing, I admit to being surprised that McConnell didn’t join them. However, he had other things on his mind today, as he announced that he would be retiring from the Senate by not seeking re-election in 2026.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (@SenMcConnell): "Seven times my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate…Representing our Commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last." pic.twitter.com/b33cR7I36e

— CSPAN (@cspan) February 20, 2025

That news aside, it is truly a new day at the FBI.
https://twitter.com/JerryDunleavy/status/1892678417742491979
While the Democrats are highly opinionated about what Kash Patel will do as FBI Director (and were not shy about complaining about it), perhaps we should consider what the man himself has said. (And look at that new X handle!)

I am honored to be confirmed as the ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Thank you to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for your unwavering confidence and support.

The FBI has a storied legacy—from the “G-Men” to safeguarding our nation in the wake of…

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) February 20, 2025

The full post reads:

I am honored to be confirmed as the ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Thank you to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for your unwavering confidence and support.

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.

Kash Patel also wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal at the end of January, which laid out his vision for the FBI in much more detail.

If confirmed, I will remain focused on the FBI’s core mission and not involve the bureau in prosecutorial decisions. Determining whether someone should be charged with a crime is the responsibility of the Justice Department, not the FBI. If confirmed, I will guide the agency in investigating criminals and safeguarding the homeland.

My experiences at the Justice Department, at the National Security Council leading counterterrorism policy, as deputy director of national intelligence and as chief of staff at the Defense Department provided me with a firsthand understanding of the persistent threats to our nation and the critical role the FBI plays in keeping Americans safe.

But my time on the House Intelligence Committee revealed how the FBI’s immense powers can be abused. I spearheaded the investigation that found the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act—a tool I had previously used to hunt down terrorists—had been unlawfully used to spy on political opponents. Such misconduct is unacceptable and undermines public trust.

The erosion of trust is evident: Only 40% of Americans hold a favorable view of the FBI. This must change. Public cooperation is vital for the bureau to solve crimes, and its declining reputation is already affecting recruitment efforts. Violent crime is destroying families across the nation. We can’t afford a lack of trust in the institution mandated to protect them. Rebuilding that trust is vital to ensuring the FBI can carry out its mission effectively.

If confirmed, I intend to collaborate closely with the Justice Department to bring safety and relief to American communities. Gallup recently reported that nearly half of all Americans—the highest in three decades—would be afraid to walk alone at night within a mile of their home. Little wonder when the country sees 20,000 homicides and 110,000 rapes a year and 200 drug overdoses a day. Violent crime demands immediate action.

Patel is correct that public trust in the FBI has degraded over the last few years, and the last two FBI directors have led the way in tarnishing the image of the agency. Here is hoping that he implements the changes in the agency that will begin to rebuild the trust of the American people.

Congratulations to Kash Patel, and we here at Victory Girls wish him the best as he begins his term as FBI director.

Featured image: original Victory Girls art by Darleen Click