FBI under Kash Patel a ‘rudderless ship’ with morale collapsing: Report claims
WASHINGTON, DC: A scathing new report compiled by a national alliance of retired and active-duty FBI special agents has painted a grim picture of the bureau under Director Kash Patel.
The 115-page assessment, which was obtained by the New York Post on Monday, December 1, described the organization as one that was "internally paralyzed by fear" and suffered from plummeting morale.
Based on confidential accounts from 24 FBI sources, the report characterized the agency as a "rudderless ship" where managers were afraid to take initiative without explicit orders.
Sources alleged that Patel was "in over his head" and lacked the "requisite knowledge" to manage the bureau's complex intelligence programs.
Paralysis stems from Kash Patel's overhaul efforts
The reported paralysis appeared to be a reaction to Patel's aggressive efforts to reform the agency.
Before his confirmation in February 2025, Patel frequently criticized the FBI for being part of a "deep state" conspiracy against President Trump and advocated for a radical overhaul of its operations.
According to the report, this created an environment where managers were "afraid of losing their jobs" and were "waiting on directions" rather than acting on their own authority.
However, the report noted that not all feedback was negative.
Multiple sources reportedly welcomed Patel’s rollback of diversity and equity initiatives and praised the agency's renewed focus on immigration enforcement operations.
Some agents also expressed support for the firing of senior executives deemed responsible for past politicization, though they argued that the reforms "have not gone deep enough."
Allegations of vanity and tirades against Kash Patel
The assessment detailed specific incidents that allegedly frustrated rank-and-file agents.
One account described a scene in Provo, Utah, on September 11, the day after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
A "highly respected" source claimed that Patel refused to leave the FBI jet without a raid jacket, forcing agents working the case to stop their work to find one.
When a jacket was finally procured, Patel reportedly complained about missing Velcro patches and refused to disembark until SWAT team members removed patches from their own uniforms for him to use.
The same source confirmed that Patel later directed an "expletive-laden tirade" at a special agent-in-charge over perceived blunders in the case.
Dan Bongino and FBI's internal culture changes
The report also targeted Deputy Director Dan Bongino, whom one source described as "something of a clown."
Bongino, who was granted a waiver exempting him from standard polygraph screening, allegedly had to call and apologize for the Utah incident, admitting that it "never should have happened."
Both leaders faced criticism for an excessive focus on social media, with employees reporting that they often learn about the bureau's mission from X (formerly Twitter) rather than internal channels.
In another instance, Patel reportedly ordered polygraph examinations for personnel at Quantico to identify who had leaked details about his request to be issued an FBI firearm.
International concerns regarding FBI's way of operating
The report indicated that the internal turmoil was causing concerns among international allies.
Sources claimed that foreign law enforcement agencies feared that the administration's approach could "cause long-term damage to international cooperation."
The anonymous authors of the report emphasized that the assessment "was never intended to be a hit piece" but acknowledged that the anecdotal reporting skewed negative.
The White House has denied recent rumors that President Trump planned on replacing Patel.
The congressional judiciary committees are expected to receive a copy of the full assessment this week.
