New FBI Director Kash Patel has told senior officials that he plans to relocate up to 1,000 employees from Washington to field offices around the country and move an additional 500 to a large bureau facility in Huntsville, Alabama, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions.
The plans were communicated Friday, the same day Patel was sworn in on the campus of the White House, and are in keeping with his oft-stated vision of reducing the size of the FBI’s footprint in Washington and having more of a presence in offices in other cities.
“Director Patel has made clear his promise to the American public that FBI agents will be in communities focused on combatting violent crime. He has directed FBI leadership to implement a plan to put this promise into action,” the FBI said in a statement that did not provide any specifics.
The person who discussed Patel’s vision did so on condition of anonymity to describe plans that have not been made public.
Patel was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday by a 51-49 margin, with two Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, breaking party ranks and voting against him.