FBI director Kash Patel says his agency is nearly $1 billion more than the White House proposal.
FBI Director Kash Patel said at a May 7 Congressional hearing that the department needs more money than the amount included in the budget proposal proposed by President Donald Trump.
At a hearing of a subcommittee of House Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Institutions, Patel was asked about a $545 million cut in the 2026 Trump’s “Skinny Budget” proposal to the FBI by $545 million.
“The Skinny budget is a proposal, and I’m working through the budget process to explain why we need more than what was proposed,” Patel told Delauro.
The FBI currently has approximately $10.7 billion in funding. Under Trump’s proposal, that amount would be immersed in $10.2 billion.
Patel said he is working to increase the budget beyond current funding levels.
“So, what do you need?” Delauro asked. “Do you need $11.2 billion?
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“About,” replied Patel.
Patel’s proposal is nearly $1 billion, exceeding what Trump proposed.
The White House proposal “reflects the president’s priorities of protecting national security by reducing violent crime in American cities, reducing FBI agents’ overheads for FBI DC, and maintaining existing law enforcement officials,” a statement accompanied by the FBI Cuts section.
The statement said the budget reflects “a new focus on anti-intellectuality and counter-terrorism while reducing illegal enforcement duties that do not align with the president’s priorities.”
According to the White House, some of these “non-enforcement missions” included diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and redundant agencies that already existed effectively elsewhere.
In a question to Patel, Delauro said that spending cuts at the proposed level would require reductions and asked Patel which positions would be cut as a result of the White House budget.
“At this point, we’re not considering who we’re going to cut. We’re focusing our energy on how we can’t get them to cut by coming here and highlighting that we can’t do our mission at the 2011 budget level,” Patel replied.
In a follow-up, Patel noted that the FBI submitted a $11.1 billion budget request, part of an effort to stem mass termination.
“This is the proposed budget, not the FBI. The proposed budget I proposed is to cover us with $11.1 billion.
Delauro was thrown by the response as federal officials are usually consistent with the White House plans at such hearings.
Rep. Glenn Evie (D-MD) also expressed surprise at the handling of Patel’s hearing.
“Mr. Patel, I say to you. I didn’t support your nominations or your confirmation, but I’m grateful for what you’re saying here today.
“I think I’m grateful for what you said about the budget issue, because if you say you think you need more than a Skinny Budget donation, I strongly agree,” he added.
In response to lawmakers, Patel noted that the agency’s budget needs to be increased to maintain full capacity for law enforcement purposes.
Ultimately, Congress will work with the White House to determine the 2026 budget spending levels. The issue is not scheduled until September 30th, when the ongoing solutions that maintain government funding expire.
In the interim, Patel could continue to appeal to the White House by increasing the institution’s budget, despite the uncertainty of the outcome of the issue.
Before the agency’s promotion to the board, Patel has been criticizing the bureau’s leaders in recent years.
Like Trump, Patel advocated for institutional weaponization of Republicans and conservatives.
Patel has also long emphasized that the FBI believes it could be redeemed through its commitment to reform and focusing on serious crime.
Before the hearing, Patel announced at a press conference, along with Attorney General Pam Bondi, that the government had arrested 205 child sex predators in a five-day sweeps across the country.
“If you hurt our children, you cannot give us sanctuary,” Patel said at a press conference.
“There’s no place we won’t come to hunt you down. There’s no place we won’t look for you. And if you do harm to our children, there’s no cage that we won’t let you in.”
