FBI Director Kash Patel Sidesteps Tradition, Seeks Direct Line to Trump’s Oval Office, Bypassing AG Pam Bondi
On February 21, 2025, Kash Patel was sworn in as the ninth Director of the FBI by Attorney General Pamela Bondi in Washington, D.C. (White House photo.)
FBI Director Kash Patel has reportedly taken steps to establish a direct, secure communication channel from his home and FBI office to President Trump in the Oval Office—circumventing Attorney General Pam Bondi and breaking from the conventional chain of command.
A Wall Street Journal report revealed that Patel prioritized this direct link to Trump as his initial move after assuming leadership of the FBI. Historically, since the era of J. Edgar Hoover, FBI directors have kept a deliberate distance from the White House to maintain independence. Patel, however, appears intent on aligning the bureau closely with Trump’s administration, shifting away from what some describe as an entrenched “deep-state” culture within the agency.
According to the Journal:
Patel’s push for direct access to Trump deviates from the standard protocol, where the FBI director typically reports to the deputy attorney general, and the president communicates primarily with the attorney general.
This move reflects a broader trend within Trump’s administration, where officials, including Patel and senior Justice Department figures, frequently consult Trump and his deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller. Sources say Miller has been in regular contact with Justice Department leadership, including on FBI matters. For instance, Patel initially intended to appoint veteran FBI agent Robert Kissane as his deputy, but he relented to Trump’s preference for outspoken conservative Dan Bongino. Additionally, Miller reportedly pressed then-acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove in late-night calls to urge the FBI to intensify efforts on Trump’s immigration enforcement goals. Bove also directed prosecutors to dismiss a bribery case against New York Mayor Eric Adams, citing the need for Adams to focus on supporting Trump’s priorities, such as combating illegal immigration and violent crime.
Further signaling his unconventional approach, Patel has explored hiring a private security detail, separate from the FBI agents typically assigned to protect the director. Insiders suggest this stems from his distrust of existing agency personnel.
