Two dozen current and former FBI agents have now reportedly delivered a blistering assessment of FBI Director Kash Patel, outlining what they describe as severe leadership failures inside the bureau under his tenure. The 115-page internal report—obtained and published by New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, a journalist well-known for her pro-Trump reporting—was prepared for the Republican-led House and Senate Judiciary Committees.
According to the document, agents characterized the FBI under Patel as a “rudderless ship” and “all f–ked up,” offering multiple examples of what they see as bungled leadership, poor judgment, and a toxic culture inside the bureau.
One agent described Patel as “very personable and likable,” but said the Trump-appointed director created “a culture of mistrust and uncertainty among the ranks” after he began his term by aggressively removing top-level officials. Among those forced out were acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll—widely respected within the bureau—and longtime special agent Walter Giardina, who was fired shortly after losing his wife to cancer.
The report also raised alarms about Patel’s conduct following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah—an event that shook the conservative movement and triggered a massive law-enforcement response. Devine wrote that Patel’s behavior during the investigation “undermined faith in his leadership,” noting accusations that Patel made “premature public remarks” that risked compromising the investigation and attempted to take credit for arrests carried out by other agencies. He was also accused of yelling and swearing at the agent leading the case.
Both Patel and conservative commentator Dan Bongino were criticized by agents for “arrogance” and being overly focused on social-media presence and personal branding. One source reportedly said Patel needed to “stop talking, stop posing, and just be professional,” while another said the FBI’s top leadership was spending “too much time on social media and public relations” and appeared more interested in “building their own personal résumés.”
One of the most striking anecdotes involved Patel’s conduct the day after Kirk’s killing. According to the report, Patel refused to step off an FBI aircraft in Provo without an official FBI raid jacket. Agents working around the clock on the Kirk case were told to stop their work and search for a jacket that would fit him. When a female agent’s jacket was brought to the plane, Patel allegedly complained that two upper-sleeve areas lacked Velcro patches. Members of an FBI SWAT team then removed patches from their own uniforms and rushed them to the tarmac so Patel would agree to exit the aircraft.
The report also describes an incident in which Patel berated Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Bohls—the official overseeing the Kirk investigation—in an “expletive-laden tirade” over alleged mistakes.
The findings paint a picture of an FBI leadership team in disarray, with agents expressing deep concern over morale, professionalism, and public credibility. Now in the hands of Republican lawmakers, the report is expected to fuel further scrutiny of Patel’s tenure and intensify congressional pressure on the bureau’s management structure.
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