Former CIA and FBI director asks senators to reconsider Patel and Gabbard
SUMMARY
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominations of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and Kash Patel as FBI Director have drawn scrutiny from former CIA and FBI Director William Webster. In a letter to senators, Webster expressed concerns about Gabbard’s limited intelligence management experience and Patel’s close alignment with Trump, warning it could undermine impartiality at the FBI. Trump’s team defended both picks, emphasizing their qualifications. Gabbard, an Army Lieutenant Colonel with over 20 years of military service, has handled high-level intelligence during wartime and as a Congresswoman worked on critical national security issues. Patel, with extensive bipartisan experience, served under both Presidents Obama and Trump, earning recognition for exposing surveillance abuses and addressing national security challenges. supporters argue Gabbard and Patel bring fresh, reform-oriented leadership to strengthen U.S. intelligence and law enforcement.
