FBI Director Kash Patel Testifies Before Congress

[0:01] agencies will come to order. This hearing will consider the President's FY 2027 budget [1:00] request for the Department of Justice's law enforcement components, including the Federal [1:04] Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshal [1:08] Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives. First, this hearing [1:14] takes place during National Police Week, and this is a time for our country to recognize the men [1:19] and women in law enforcement who work every day to keep our communities and country safe. [1:24] Director Patel, Seralta, I know you well, sir, and Administrator Cole, please express my gratitude [1:35] to the agents and deputies, duty officers, professional staff, and families who support your agencies. [1:43] I appreciate their service in Kansas. Kansans appreciate their service at home and in our country, [1:49] and our country is safer because of what they do. Traditionally, the subcommittee has only received [1:55] a budget defense from the Attorney General on behalf of the entire Department of Justice and the [2:01] Director of the FBI. As the chairman of this subcommittee, I've had the opportunity to meet [2:06] with many dedicated professional law enforcement officers and staff at ATF, the DEA, FBI, and United [2:12] States Marshal Service. I've long believed that these agencies, they also deserve, in addition to the [2:18] FBI, in addition to the Department of Justice, the opportunity to explain to this committee the [2:23] resources they need to execute their missions. Each of you, all these agencies are important, [2:29] and I want this subcommittee to be able to hear from you and to ask you questions regarding your [2:36] budget requests. Our witnesses will discuss their budget requests in greater detail today, so I'll only [2:42] note that each component has requested an increase above the FY 2026 enacted levels. We've had several [2:49] years of relatively flat budgets and, in the case of ATF, significant reductions. These agencies need [2:55] additional resources to carry out their responsibilities effectively. I've seen firsthand the important [3:00] work these agencies are doing in my home state, whether it's ATF expanding crime gun intelligence [3:06] through its partnership at Wichita State University, DEA's effort to combat fentanyl trafficking and support [3:12] law enforcement in rural communities across Kansas, the FBI's coordination with state and local partners, [3:18] as Kansas City prepares to host soccer matches during the FY, during the FIFA 2026 World Cup, [3:26] or the marshals working alongside local law enforcement through fugitive task forces across [3:31] the District of Kansas. Today's hearing is an opportunity for this committee to better understand the [3:36] challenges facing each of your agencies, the resources you believe are necessary to carry out your [3:41] missions, and how Congress can best support the men and women serving in the federal law enforcement. [3:47] I appreciate each of you being here today, and I look forward to your testimony. Senator Van Hollen, [3:52] you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to working with you again [3:57] to write a bill that provides the resources the FBI, DEA, ATF, and the U.S. Marshal Service need [4:04] to protect their core missions, ensuring the safety, security, and rights of the American people. [4:10] I also look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure oversight and accountability regarding the [4:16] new FBI headquarters and making sure that it meets the mission and security requirements of the FBI. [4:23] And I welcome all the witnesses today as we recognize key members of our American law enforcement family [4:29] during National Police Week. I look forward to hearing about the various budget requests, [4:34] but we should acknowledge that we are not gathered here at this hearing at a normal time, [4:39] because what we are learning about what's happening at the FBI is anything but normal. [4:46] Director Patel, as you ask for more taxpayer resources, we cannot look away from the credible, [4:52] extremely troubling reports about your misconduct at the FBI. All four of you hold positions of great [5:00] public trust. The American people trust that each of you will responsibly exercise your powers [5:07] to protect them. You're expected to be on call night and day, able to make quick decisions to guard our [5:13] nation's security. You must always be prepared to answer that call, whether it comes at 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. [5:21] That is your duty. Director Patel, I don't care one bit about your private life, and I don't give a damn [5:28] about what you do on your own time and your own dime, unless and until it interferes with your public [5:35] responsibilities. Being the director of the FBI is an awesome responsibility. And when your private [5:43] actions make it impossible for you to perform your public duties, we have a big problem. You cannot [5:49] perform those public duties if you're incapacitated. And Director Patel, these reports about your conduct, [5:56] including reports of your being so drunk and hungover that your staff had to force entry into your home, [6:01] are extremely alarming. If true, they demonstrate a gross dereliction of your duty and a betrayal of [6:09] public trust. I cannot imagine ever having to worry about former FBI Directors Ray or Mueller spending [6:16] multiple weekends drinking heavily at the poodle room in Las Vegas. Now, I understand that you've [6:22] denied these reports, and you will have a chance today here to challenge them. But the problem with your [6:29] leadership does not end there. We're also witnessing a litany of other abuses, political firings of [6:36] trusted career agents whose only fault was following the facts and the law. That includes the firing of [6:42] agents and staff from a special counterintelligence unit that monitored threats from Iran, weaponizing [6:49] the FBI to seek political revenge on former FBI Director James Comey and others, using FBI investigative [6:56] resources to go after journalists who write stories that you don't like. And just this morning, we learned more [7:03] details about your firing of Brian Driscoll, a decorated FBI special agent with nearly two decades of [7:10] experience. He claims in an interview that you made clear that his failure at the FBI was tied to [7:16] that his future at the FBI was tied to his political allegiance to Donald Trump. So you're asking for more [7:22] resources at a time that you're misspending valuable resources on political revenge instead of focusing on [7:28] defending our national security. I'm pleased, as the chairman said, that all of your agencies noticed our bipartisan [7:36] opposition to the deep cuts from last year and have provided presented more robust plans this year. There's still [7:43] major gaps to be addressed. One notable example among the DOJ programs is the elimination of the organized crime drug [7:51] enforcement task forces. As I understand it, DEA was oddly sidelined in this process. I'm also concerned [7:58] about diverting resources away from core missions of each of your agencies to fuel President Trump's mass [8:04] deportation agenda. Trump told us he was going after the quote, worst of the worst, who posed a danger to [8:10] our communities. That would be fine. But if you look at the Department of Homeland Security's own data, [8:15] overwhelmingly the people being targeted and locked up pose no risk to public safety. So when you [8:21] divert resources away from fighting serious violent crime to locking people up who mostly don't pose [8:28] a risk to public safety, you're making us less, not more safe. Let me close by thanking the thousands [8:35] of law enforcement personnel, both local, state and federal, who work tirelessly each day to keep us all [8:42] safe. And I look forward to the hearing and discussion today. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You're welcome, [8:48] Ranking Member. I look forward to working with you as we work our way through these [8:52] budget requests and our appropriations process. I now recognize our witnesses for their testimony, [8:59] and I recognize the Director of the FBI, Cash Patel. Good afternoon, Chairman Moran, Ranking Member [9:05] Van Hollen and members of the subcommittee. Thank you for inviting me to represent the FBI's fiscal year [9:10] 2027. It's an honor to represent 36,000 men and women of the FBI that serve around the country and around [9:15] the world, especially during Police Week. Director, would you pull the mic closer, please? Of course. Thank you. [9:21] This week, especially for Police Week, we pause to commemorate the incredible dedication and bravery of [9:25] our law enforcement communities across the country, who stand on the front lines and shield our citizens [9:29] from dangers and threaten our everyday way of life. Every day, the FBI safeguards our nation's safety and [9:35] security with our law enforcement partners. To achieve our no-fail mission, we fully support the [9:40] President's budget proposal for the FBI of $12.53 billion to get us right-sized. Before getting [9:47] into specifics, I'd like to highlight that the importance of the FBI mission is never more [9:51] important than at this critical time, especially during the recent violent attacks during the White [9:55] House Correspondent Center, which all too many of us were there. I was proud that the FBI, within [9:59] moments, immediately jumped into action, launched a bi-coastal investigation, launched fixed-wing and [10:03] rotary assets in men and women in evidence response teams, bond technicians and interviews, [10:08] and within 24 hours, we had that evidence from California to Boston back in Washington, D.C., [10:13] and the individual was charged. That is truly exemplary work by the interagency and our state [10:17] and local partners and the men and women in the FBI. Thanks to the brilliant personnel at the FBI, [10:23] this year has been truly historic in the reduction of crime. It has been a record-breaking year. [10:28] We have seen in 2025 alone a historic 20-point decline in the nation's murder rate. We also saw 44,000 [10:36] violent offenders arrested by this FBI last year alone. To put that in perspective, that's twice as [10:42] many violent offenders arrested in all of 2024. The FBI seized more than 2,200 kilograms of fentanyl [10:49] last year. That's a 31 percent increase from 2024. That's enough to kill 180 million Americans [10:55] across this country. The FBI arrested eight of our top 10 most wanted fugitives in just 14 months. To put [11:01] that in perspective, that's double the number of the entirety of the prior administration. We've made [11:06] over 3,000 arrests and seized over 1,000 firearms at the border, including 90 high-value targets from [11:12] Mexico brought here for prosecution. And through our leadership in the Homeland Security Task Force [11:17] and the interagency, a six-week effort led by the HSTF contributed to 400 operations, 32 federal agents [11:24] working in it, and 91 metric tons of drugs were seized. We've also seen unprecedented progress in protecting our [11:30] most vulnerable, our children. In 2025, we located more than 6,300 missing kids. That's a 30 percent [11:38] increase from 2024. And we arrested more than 2,000 child predators and human traffickers in 2025. That's [11:46] a 17 percent increase from 2024. We also wiped out 4 million pedophile accounts off the dark web entirely. [11:54] And we also focused in on the 764 network, those who especially target our youth and are vulnerable [11:59] online. And we saw a 500 percent increase in the arrest of the NVE community. In terms of national [12:06] security, we've been equally aggressive on that front as well, on the counterterrorism side, on the [12:10] domestic and homegrown violent extremist side. And there's no overstating that our work, the men and [12:15] women at the FBI, proudly stopped four terrorist attacks in the month of December last year alone in [12:20] California, Pennsylvania, Texas, and New York. We also stood up the NSPM Joint's Mission Center, integrating [12:27] intelligence and operational expertise across our agencies to disrupt political violence and domestic [12:32] terrorism. We finally empowered our capabilities at the FBI with an AI advancement that the FBI [12:39] workforce has not seen. This FBI is up using AI 230 percent across our enterprise. The Bureau is fully [12:46] engaged in defending against cyber attacks from nation-state adversaries, criminals, and everything in [12:51] between. Last year, our Internet Crime Complaints Center fielded more than 1 million complaints that [12:56] totaled nearly $21 billion in losses based on cyber theft. We've also seen an increase in complex [13:03] financial crime arrests, included 400 indictments, and seized over $1.6 billion in funds related to [13:09] those crimes, a 65 percent increase. Maybe most impactful in terms of scams, the FBI has led the [13:15] overseas operations in Cambodia, Thailand, and Burma, crippling the scam center compounds stood up by the CCP, [13:21] including the arrest of an individual responsible for $14 billion in scams alone. And we're scuttling [13:28] these compounds one by one. Just last week in Dubai, thanks to the cooperation of the FBI and the [13:33] Dubai National Police and MPS, we arrested 300 individuals, freed 2,000 people who were forced into [13:38] traffic labor, and shut down a $4 billion scam center that was operating to fleece Americans and seniors of [13:44] their hard-earned dollars. The FBI's unique authorities on these front lines show that we're defending the [13:49] homeland. Just last month, we extradited Zhu Zhu Wei, one of the top two cyber hackers from Italy. [13:55] They say we couldn't get him. They thought the CCP was going to get him, but now he's here in prison. [14:00] Our work collectively on the counterintelligence mission speaks for itself. 43 percent more [14:06] counterintelligence arrests in 2025 than all of 2024 from China, DPRK, Russia, and elsewhere. And as you [14:14] know to Mr. Chairman, we are busy getting ready for protecting Americans from every event of the Olympics, [14:18] the World Cup, the F1, and the Super Bowl as we drive into 2028. But this summer, all eyes are [14:23] focused on the World Cup and the FBI and DHS stand ready, learning from our valuable experiences and [14:28] focusing on a 14-month lift to ensure everybody is taken care of when they visit our country for this [14:34] World Cup event. Lastly, we have secured record-breaking achievements to include task force officers from [14:42] around the country, including deputizing our own officers, reducing the task force officer pipeline from 14 [14:48] months to 60 days, allowing men and women in law enforcement to work together at speeds that have [14:52] never been delivered before. With your continued support, this FBI stands ready to continue this [14:57] great work, and I stand ready to answer any and all questions from you. And categorically, Mr. Vice Chairman, [15:04] when you say there's credible reporting, just because you say it's credible doesn't make it so. [15:08] This FBI is doing a historic level of crime reduction across the country. I'm proud to lead it, [15:13] and if you want to cite media reporting to discredit the men and women with the FBI, go right ahead. [15:17] The target's right here. The mission has never been more successful. Administrator Terrence Cole, [15:24] Drug Enforcement Agency. Chairman Moran, ranking member Van Hollen, and members of the subcommittee, [15:29] thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. It's an honor to be here during National [15:34] Police Week when we recognize the men and women of law enforcement who have given their lives in a line of [15:39] duty. I appreciate your continued support of the Drug Enforcement Administration and nearly 9,000 [15:46] professionals who carry out the mission across the United States and around the world. As a law [15:51] enforcement veteran of more than 30 years, I come before you with a straightforward message. The threat [15:57] we face today is unlike anything we've seen before. The DEA's mission has never been more urgent. [16:05] Fentanyl continues to kill Americans at alarming rates. It's not just another drug threat. It's a weapon [16:10] of mass destruction. Measured in American lives lost every day, it's produced and distributed by [16:16] transnational criminal organizations that have industrialized death for profit. The Sinaloa and [16:24] Jalisco New Generation Cartels, now designated foreign terrorist organizations, are driving this crisis. [16:31] They operate as a global enterprise. They use sophisticated supply chains, financial networks, [16:36] and technology to move poison into our communities. They are well-funded, highly adapted, and relentless. [16:44] We have to be just as relentless in our response. And DEA is leading the fight. We're taking the fight [16:51] directly to these organizations with aggressive, intelligence-driven enforcement. Our focus is clear. [16:57] Target leadership. Break their command and control. Disrupt supply chains. Hold accountable [17:04] those who profit from the addiction and death, including the global networks that supply precursor [17:11] chemicals to make fentanyl production possible. And we are delivering results. In one recent coordinated [17:18] surge, DEA and our partners made more than 600 arrests. We seized hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl, [17:24] multi-ton quantities of cocaine and meth, hundreds of firearms, and more than 11 million dollars in U.S. [17:31] currency. Across our fentanyl operations, we've made thousands of arrests tied to trafficking networks, [17:38] seized millions of fentanyl pills, removed hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl powder from circulation. [17:45] Those numbers translate directly into lives saved. We're also seeing an impact at our community level. [17:51] In one city alone, targeted operations with our partners led to the reduction in violent crime of more [17:57] than one-third and a significant amount of drugs and firearms taken off the streets. [18:03] Drug trafficking drives violence. When we dismantle these networks, we're not just removing drugs, [18:09] we're making communities safer. We're also focused on the financial side of this fight. [18:14] We're going after the money, including the use of cryptocurrency and other tools that these [18:20] organizations rely on to move and hide profits. Our reach is both global and local. DEA operates in 82 [18:29] offices across 62 countries and maintains a presence of 26 field divisions with more than 200 offices here [18:36] at home. This allows us to attack the problem from source to the street. We do this work with [18:42] discipline and accountability. DEA's workforce is a driven agency. We have nearly 9,000 employees on board [18:50] against an authorized level of nearly 9,700 employees. That includes just over 4,000 special agents on board, [18:59] compared to nearly 4,800 authorized. We prioritize putting people where they have the greatest impact [19:06] on the front lines. We're also careful stewards of the taxpayers' resources. More than 80% of our budget [19:13] supports mandatory crossed, like salaries. Only a small portion is available for operational work. [19:20] That means every operational dollar has to count. And it does. We prioritize keeping agents in the field. [19:28] Focus our resources on action that dismantles organizations and removes drugs from our community. [19:34] We measure success by impact. Networks disrupted. Communities protected. Lives saved. The President's budget [19:43] reflects confidence in that approach. It supports DEA's mission, our results, and our stewardship of resources [19:51] entrusted to us. At the same time, the threat continues to evolve. These organizations move fast. [19:59] They exploit global supply chains, digital platforms, and financial systems. To keep the pace, DEA has to [20:05] strengthen its capacity in intelligence, data, and technology. This means giving our agents and analysts [20:13] the tools to connect information, identify networks, and act quickly. It means improving how we share [20:19] intelligence with federal, state, local, tribal, and international partners. And it means making sure our [20:26] workforce has what it needs to do the job. This is about enabling investigators to get out from behind the desk [20:33] and onto the streets where they have the greatest impact. Our mission is simple. Protect Americans [20:39] and save American lives. We do this by enforcing the law, dismantling organizations, driving this crisis, [20:47] and working with our partners across the country and around the world. The men and women of DEA [20:52] understand what is at stake. They see it every day. They carry out this mission with professionalism [20:58] and purpose. With your continued support, we will stay on the offensive. We will keep pressure on the [21:05] cartels. We will continue to disrupt networks driving the fentanyl crisis. And we will continue to protect [21:11] Americans with the resources you entrust to us. Thank you, and I look forward to your questions. [21:17] Thank you, Administrator. Now, Director Ceralta of the United States Marshal Service. Director. [21:24] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, subcommittee. Members, good afternoon, and thank you for the opportunity to testify [21:31] on behalf of the United States Marshal Service fiscal year 2027 President's budget request. [21:38] The United States Marshal Service occupies a uniquely central position in the federal justice system. [21:45] While protecting the judiciary, we're also the enforcement arm of the federal courts, [21:51] involved in virtually every federal law enforcement initiative. Further, we are the federal government's [21:58] primary agency for fugitive investigations and have the broadest arrest authority among federal law [22:05] enforcement agencies. The U.S. Marshal Service has been at the apex of federal judicial protection, [22:13] investigation, and enforcement with vast mission responsibilities such as witness protection [22:20] and prisoner management as well. The United States Marshal Service is unique from all other agencies and [22:27] has no control over the workload for our primary mission. Protecting, defending, and enforcing the [22:35] American justice system. For example, we cannot control the number of threats to our protectees and [22:42] the subsequent required protection details. Prisoners that enter our custody cannot be controlled. How many [22:51] federal witnesses we protect or how many judicial proceedings are held each year. We're excited to work with [22:59] you in advancing the United States Marshal Service forward in fiscal year 2027. This will require [23:08] increases in personal equipment and equipment for critical safety needs. Our total budget request for [23:16] nearly $5.2 billion includes $2.2 billion for salaries and expenses, $15 million for construction, [23:27] and $3 billion for federal prisoner detention. Our workforce is one of the smallest in the federal law [23:35] enforcement at about 3,800 deputy U.S. Marshals. However, in fiscal year 2025, we arrested over 73,000 fugitives, [23:46] conducted over 308,000 prisoner movements, housed over 55,000 prisoners, managed 37,000 assets worth $10.4 billion, [23:57] provided security details for 18 protectees, in addition to securing the residences of the U.S. [24:06] Supreme Court justices. Our continued success depends on our ability to provide the appropriate funding [24:14] and personnel to support our missions. The fiscal year 2027 president's budget request maintains and [24:28] advances funding for core activities. The U.S. Marshals Service requests program increases of $478 million [24:38] for salaries and expenses appropriation to support the addition of 918 positions, of which 645 positions [24:47] are for much-needed deputy United States Marshals. The budget request increases funding for judicial [24:56] security and protective operations, establishes a protective equipment program, provides permanent [25:02] resources for safe task forces, expands immigration enforcement, right-sizes fugitive task forces, [25:10] and institutes a cyclical replacement of vehicles. One highlight of the U.S. Marshals Service budget [25:16] request is one that is always at the forefront of my heart and this committee's concern, and that's the [25:24] safety and security of our law enforcement officers. This morning, at the Marshals Service headquarters, [25:30] we honoured our fallen as part of our National Police Week ceremonies, recognizing officers who have lost [25:36] their lives in the line of duty. We read the names of more than 300 of them. It is imperative that we [25:44] provide the best equipment and training to aid in protecting our deputies while accomplishing our [25:51] operational missions safely and successfully. I would like to discuss a matter of utmost importance, [25:57] courthouse security and our construction appropriation. Unfortunately, the backlog of renovation [26:03] projects to fix critical facility and security deficiency currently exceeds $484 million. Additional [26:12] funding is necessary to maintain the infrastructure for the safety of the judicial officials, courtroom [26:18] participants, the public and our personnel. Lastly, the Marshals Service is required to house all [26:25] detainees remanded to the custody of the Attorney General and must ensure sufficient resources are [26:31] available for their housing and care. We have had some funding challenges in the last few years and [26:37] appreciate the President's budget request of $3 billion. In closing, our continued success depends on [26:45] our ability to provide the appropriate funding and personnel to support these vital functions. [26:51] And so on behalf of the brave men and women of the United States Marshals Service, I thank you. [26:58] Thank you. And now, Robert Ciccata, the Director of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and I appreciate [27:07] your attendance. Thank you. Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon, Chairman Moran, [27:11] Ranking Member Van Hollen, and members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to [27:16] discuss the President's fiscal year 2027 budget request for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, [27:21] and Explosives. I am truly honored to be here. ATF is the only federal law enforcement agency whose primary [27:28] mission is combating violent crime. We arrest violent criminals, disrupt firearms trafficking networks [27:33] that arm gangs and cartels, investigate bombings and arsons, and deliver world-class forensic and [27:39] intelligence services to state and local partners, all while protecting the Second Amendment rights of [27:44] law-abiding Americans. We are a small federal agency with roughly 4,600 employees, but we are mighty. [27:51] Our actions speak for themselves. Since January 20, 2025, ATF has arrested over 8,700 criminals, [27:58] and seized nearly 44,000 firearms. Approximately 5,100 were interdicted before they were trafficked [28:05] into Mexico. Just over 2.7 million rounds of ammunition and more than 28,300 illegal explosives [28:12] were also interdicted and seized as evidence. ATF also investigated more than 3,500 arson and [28:19] explosives incidents and deployed the national response team to 22 call-outs, including the [28:24] Palisades Wildfire in California. We completed more than 11,000 FFL inspections and processed nearly [28:31] 856,000 firearm trace requests for our state and local partners. We've also been very busy making [28:38] operational improvements to our e-forms processing times. Between January 1, 2026 and April 14, 2026, [28:46] ATF received more than 1 million e-form applications and finalized nearly 924,000 of those applications. [28:54] Today we are on track to hit a new record. By the end of May, we will have processed as many e-form 1 and [28:59] 4 applications in 2026 as we did in the entirety of 2023. We have done all of this while cutting e-forms [29:07] one processing time from 47 days to 42 days and cutting e-form 4 processing times from 230 days in 2023 [29:17] to just 12 days today. The funds Congress has appropriated to date have allowed ATF to make a [29:23] tangible difference in communities throughout the country every single day. ATF provides critical [29:28] services to state and local law enforcement at no cost, including firearms tracing, ballistic [29:34] intelligence, and forensic laboratory examinations involving firearms, arson, and explosives. [29:40] These capabilities are central to identifying shooters, disrupting trafficking networks, [29:45] and solving violent crime. ATF is grateful for this funding and achieved a tremendous result, [29:51] but without adequate investments by Congress, these results are not further sustainable. [29:57] That is what makes the President's FY27 budget request for ATF so important. It totals $1.652 [30:03] billion for salaries and expenses with $4,749 full-time equivalents. It is what ATF requires to sustain our [30:12] mission. Notably, the Administration's budget includes two program enhancements, $7.8 million for NIBIN [30:20] and $25.8 million for combat and gun violence. The NIBIN enhancement will enable ATF to replace aging [30:26] ballistics imaging equipment and expand correlation services to additional sites. This would ensure timely [30:33] investigative lead generation, allowing law enforcement to identify and apprehend violent [30:38] offenders more effectively. The combatting gun violence enhancement will enable ATF to add 86 [30:44] positions, including 60 special agents, to support the expansion of firearms trafficking task forces [30:50] along the southwest border and increase ATF's ability to identify, disrupt, and dismantle cross-border [30:57] smuggling operations. If enacted, the Administration's budget will enable ATF to sustain core [31:02] capabilities, modernize critical infrastructure, and continue providing and expanding access to [31:09] services for law enforcement partners, allowing us to continue focusing on our unique mission of [31:14] combating violent crime. The Senate has been a staunch supporter of ATF's mission. I'm deeply grateful for [31:20] that. I look forward to continuing to work together. I thank you all again. I look forward to your questions. [31:25] Director Sakata, thank you very much. We'll now begin with a round of questions, and I'll begin [31:33] with you, Administrator Cole. I just returned from a visit to China, where in conversations with Chinese [31:40] leaders, we again push the issue of precursor chemicals and their import to Mexico and ultimately [31:48] the drugs to the United States. I've also been to Mexico and met with the leadership there to encourage [31:55] them to discourage China from continuing to import those precursors. What's the DEA, what are you [32:03] doing as the Administrator to engage those foreign partners in China as well as other places, India [32:10] for example, to break down this supply chain? Senator, thank you. DEA is laser focused on targeting and [32:19] disrupting the supply chain out of China as well as in India. We've held two bilaterals this year [32:27] with Chinese officials, one at DEA headquarters and the other one at our Rocky Mountain Field Division. [32:34] We continue to work on the ground in Beijing, China with NCB, the National Control Board in China, [32:42] as well as MPS, the Minister of Public Safety. We continue to stay engaged. We continue to target [32:49] the Chinese organizations that are sending this precursor chemicals into Mexico for the manufacturing of [32:56] fentanyl to come across our border. We will continue to stay on our front foot. We will continue to [33:01] target. We will continue to work with U.S. Ambassador David Perdue on the ground in China, [33:06] who has been a tremendous advocate on the ground, not only for all federal law enforcement, [33:11] but for protecting American citizens in our country from this danger of the precursor chemicals [33:17] that continue to flow into Mexico and into Colombia. [33:21] Mr. Trader, how do you evaluate the interests, the willingness of the Chinese officials and [33:28] other foreign countries, their leadership in actually assisting and keeping the precursors out? [33:33] And at the ground level, we're working extremely well. I think there are still barriers that are in [33:39] place. I hope that I know the president's visit this week will be fruitful as we continue to stay on the [33:45] offense when it comes to protecting Americans to this precursor chemicals that continue to flow into [33:52] Mexico and China. The Mexican authorities have stepped up their game with bilateral cooperation. [33:59] I think everybody at this table has seen an increase in the cooperation with Mexico, but we need more. [34:06] We can only determine the effect when we start to see the decrease [34:10] in Americans that are dying at the hands of this poison that is coming out of Mexico but is being [34:17] fueled by China and India. Thank you for your efforts, and I look forward to results. [34:24] Director Sorralta, you are the second U.S. Marshal I ever met in a visit to Florida when you were the [34:33] in the District of Florida, and I appreciate the hospitality you extended to me, I don't know, [34:37] three years ago or so, as I tried to learn about the Marshal Service in this capacity I hold on this [34:42] committee. You mentioned infrastructure at courthouses. I've taken an interest over the years in [34:51] the Commerce Justice Science Subcommittee working to provide additional resources for judiciary security, [35:00] and that has included security operations, courthouse security, protective details, [35:05] and threat response capabilities. We've also worked to provide legislation so that information [35:12] can be removed from websites regarding members of the judiciary and their families. [35:18] You mentioned another aspect of this in your testimony, and that's about infrastructure. [35:23] I lean back to my staff to ask if this subcommittee has jurisdiction over infrastructure at courthouses, [35:28] which I didn't necessarily think we did, but we do because it comes out of your budget. [35:33] So I want to give you the chance to highlight for me at least, what's the current circumstances [35:39] that our judges and court officials face in regard to threats? And if you want to re-highlight [35:46] for us the things that we might do to be helpful to make their persons more secure. [35:51] Thank you, Senator Moraine. It was a pleasure to have you in Florida. I hope to do that again sometime. [36:01] You did that never knowing that you were going to be the director of the U.S. Marshal I assume. [36:04] I did not know that. Correct. So our judicial security protective operations is due to the [36:13] president's budget to have an increase of $34.6 million, and that's going to strengthen and expand [36:19] the protective operations mission by adding more dedicated teams and allow the USMS to surge resources [36:27] when threats necessitate enhanced judicial security. But you bring about the question about the [36:35] construction backlog, which I mentioned in my opening. The construction backlog is $484 million, [36:44] and that includes $30 million of it for prisoner elevators. So anytime we have to take a prisoner [36:52] through a different elevator up the steps, we risk the prisoner injuring himself or someone being injured [37:02] by having the prisoner walking in unsecured locations. So it is a serious concern. It is something [37:09] that I believe goes to the judicial security as a whole. The marshal service mitigates and we triage [37:18] what areas we work on, work with first, with the input of the judiciary. [37:24] You would take just one more minute before I turn to Senator Van Hollen. What threats, [37:30] what's the significance of the threats members of the judiciary and their court officers face today? [37:36] Is it changing? So for the last several years, there's been an increase in threats. Any threat [37:47] that is a viable threat to a judge to us is serious business. It's something that we will investigate [37:54] and arrest individuals and seek prosecution on. So there has been an increase in threats. It's been over [38:01] the past several years. And it's fueled primarily by social media, where folks can be brave on the [38:12] internet, yet when we go meet up with them, they're not so brave. Thank you. Senator Van Hollen. [38:18] Thank you. Director Sakata, you hold a position of public trust. Do you agree that you should lead by [38:26] example and be held to at least the same standard of conduct as you expect of ATF agents? Yes, sir. [38:34] And would you agree that if one of your agents was unable to perform his or her duties because [38:41] of excessive drinking, you would need to take corrective action or disciplinary measures? Yes, [38:46] sir. Director Sorolta, same question for you with respect to the U.S. Marshal Service. Do you agree [38:54] with the responses from Director Sakata? Record member Van Hollen, that would be correct. I would do that [39:01] after a thorough investigation by our internal affairs. Administrator Cole, same question to you [39:09] with respect to the DEA. Yes, sir. I would echo what Rob and Gaddy have said after a thorough review [39:18] by our OPR, Office of Professional Responsibility. Yes, sir. Director Patel, do you agree with these [39:24] three gentlemen? Yes, sir. So you agree, Director Patel, that if one of your agents was unable to [39:31] perform his or her duties because of excessive drinking, you would need to take corrective or [39:36] disciplinary action. Do you agree with that statement? We would implement the inspection [39:39] review process just like these other agencies have their own internal investigations and complete that [39:44] review. As I said in my opening remarks, I really don't care about your personal life so long as you [39:52] are able to perform your public and official responsibilities, which are awesome responsibilities. [40:00] Multiple reports, including reporting by The Atlantic, have alleged episodes of excessive drinking, [40:06] unexplained absences, and behavior that concern current and former FBI and DOJ officials. [40:13] You have publicly denied those allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit. So today, as you testify [40:19] before Congress, is it your testimony that those allegations are categorically false? [40:24] Unequivocally, categorically false. So there have been no occasions during your [40:28] tenure when FBI personnel were unable to promptly reach you? Absolutely not. You can ask my entire [40:34] workforce. They hear from me at every single hour of the day, as do these great gentlemen here, [40:38] as do the men and women of the interagency and state and local law enforcement in the White House. [40:42] And so there have been no occasions when your security detail had difficulty waking or locating you, [40:47] is that right? Nope, it's a total farce. I don't even know where you get this stuff, [40:50] but it doesn't make it credible because you say so. [40:52] I'm not saying it, Director Patel. It's been written and documented. [40:57] You are literally saying it. No, I'm saying that these are reports, [41:01] Director Patel. Unlike your baseless reports, [41:04] the only person that was slinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar with a convicted [41:09] gangbanging rapist was you. The only person that ran up a $7,000 bar tab in Washington, D.C. [41:15] at the lobby bar was you. So the only individual in this room that has been [41:20] been drinking on taxpayer dime during the day is you. Are you polygraphing? [41:24] Director Patel, come on. These are serious allegations that were made against you. [41:29] They're in a lawsuit that you filed. The allegations are false. [41:31] You drinking margaritas with a gang guy, you're true and on video. [41:34] Actually, it just goes to show you don't... You running a $7,000 bar tab at the lobby bar has been [41:38] filed by your own office to drink during the day. That's you. This is the ultimate example of [41:44] hypocrisy. I will not be tarnished by baseless allegations or fraudulent statements from the [41:49] media. The fact that you mentioned that indicates you don't know what you are talking about. Now, [41:56] here, Director Patel. The only thing I know is you're the one drinking margaritas with felons. [41:59] Actually, that's a false statement. And I'm asking you about your statements. [42:04] I've answered that. And I'm asking you about a particular report. [42:08] It's not a report. And your testimony... So let me ask you this. [42:15] Are you willing to take the test that it's called the audit test that members of our active [42:22] duty military and others take to determine whether they have a drinking problem? [42:27] I'll take any test you're willing to take. [42:28] I will take it, Director Patel. I'll take it. You ready to take it? [42:32] Let's go. [42:32] Yes or no? [42:33] Let's go. Side by side. [42:35] I'll take it. All right. I think that the fact that you're so... Have you ordered [42:42] polygraph tests of members of your team to determine how that story came about? [42:48] The FBI conducts polygraph tests all the time. [42:50] No. Have you ordered polygraph tests for members of your team to determine who was the source of the [42:59] stories that I'm asking you about? [43:00] I don't order any polygraph tests. There's an internal inspection review process for any and [43:04] all leaks, especially of baseless information at the FBI that's been in place for the last 30 years. [43:09] Those processes are followed by career intelligence and agents on the ground. [43:12] So I'll take that as a yes, since you've said that these were unauthorized disclosures. [43:21] I have another round of questioning regarding your firing people who were important to [43:25] gathering intelligence with respect to Iran, but I'll wait for my second round. [43:28] Thank you, Chairman. [43:31] Senator Collins, we're pleased to have the chairwoman of the full committee with us. [43:36] Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. [43:38] Director Patel, the proliferation of illegal marijuana grow houses connected to transnational [43:48] criminal organizations originating in China is an ongoing problem in the state of Maine. [43:57] A DHS memo in 2023 estimated that Maine had as many as 270 Chinese-backed illegal marijuana operations, [44:11] producing up to an estimated $4.3 billion in illicit revenues. [44:20] Since then, thousands of pounds of illegal marijuana have been seized, primarily because of the tireless work [44:28] of our Maine sheriffs and local law enforcement in Maine. [44:33] One other side effect of these illegal grow operations is they usually destroy the houses in which they're located, [44:44] which exacerbates the housing shortage in my state. [44:50] Last year, you testified that the FBI would be sending more resources to the field, specifically to Maine, [44:59] to combat these dangerous operations. [45:03] I speak with Maine sheriffs frequently about this problem, [45:07] and they have reported some improvement in federal interest and participation. [45:13] For example, federal support has been critical to track money laundering, [45:19] which is often linked to these operations and in providing interpreter services [45:27] to question individuals who are arrested, [45:30] who often appear to have been trafficked and forced to work and live at these sites [45:37] under hazardous conditions and don't speak English. [45:40] For example, the FBI is working to address these dangerous grow houses that are operating, [45:51] not just in Maine, although we're a particular target, [45:55] but Oklahoma, California, and other states as well. [46:00] It's essential that we have support from FBI, from DEA, from Treasury. [46:08] This has to be an all-of-government effort to close these operations down. [46:14] Senator, I couldn't agree with you more. [46:16] And what we did, since you and I last, well, we've spoken in between you last year in this hearing, [46:21] but the HSTFs that we stood up, the Homeland Security Task Forces that we stood up in 59 locations [46:26] across the country, co-led by DHS and FBI, have specifically targeted the marijuana grow house [46:32] operations, especially tied to the Chinese. There's two problems there. The Chinese nationals [46:39] that are doing most of the criminal activity related to the grow houses have either severed ties or [46:45] covered their tracks very well and has led us to be unable to determine their direct connectivity, [46:50] I'm not saying it doesn't exist, back to mainland China. That's kind of their MO on how they do, [46:55] whether it's grow houses or any other criminal activity. So what we're doing with the HSTFs is [46:59] reverse engineering those programs, taking down the grow houses, whether they're in Maine or Oklahoma, [47:04] and tracing their banking records and their financial statements to see what we can do with [47:08] the sanctions program overseas and shut down the financiers of these operations. [47:14] Do we know where the money is going to? Some law enforcement officers in Maine believe it's tied to [47:22] the fentanyl trade? Yes ma'am. I believe as these gentlemen will tell you, the money always goes [47:28] back into the drug trafficking trade, into the drug traffickers pockets. And so that we're not seeing, [47:33] I'm not saying it doesn't happen, what we're not seeing yet is the money directly being shipped back [47:38] over to mainland China and the CCP from these grow house operations. I would encourage you to even increase [47:46] your efforts even more because this remains a huge problem in Maine despite the valiant efforts of our [47:56] sheriffs and local law enforcement. Administrator Cole, could you provide an update on DEA's efforts in this [48:06] area? Yes ma'am. Yes Senator. And we continue to target those specific marijuana traffickers in Maine. [48:16] As of recently we had executed 44 search warrants in reference to Chinese underground marijuana houses, [48:25] seized about 32,000 marijuana plants, over 500 pounds of marijuana. And as we continue to trace the Chinese [48:31] underground banking system where the funds are being fueled, as the director Patel had said, [48:37] they're often using crypto as the instantaneous transfer of wealth. And what that requires our [48:44] skilled investigators to do is to pull those findings off the blockchain, but to specifically look at one, [48:51] two and three tiers removed to help identify exactly where that those illicit gains are going to. [48:59] We continue to stay on the offensive recently with our Bangor main office. We've identified up to 250 [49:07] potential locations where this is occurring. So this is ongoing cooperation with our state local tribal [49:13] partners and our federal partners, not only through our efforts, but the efforts of the homeland security [49:19] task force that has come together. We will stay on the front foot. We will continue to target and [49:24] investigate and bring them to justice. Unfortunately, unfortunately, they are embedded, which requires [49:31] long term complex conspiracy work to continue to eradicate not only the poison of the narcotics, [49:39] but the environmental dangers that they bring to these grow houses. So we will continue. We will [49:45] keep you posted, Senator. My team is happy to follow up with your team to give you progress and update [49:50] reports. Thank you. What I have found is a lot of time constituents who live near these houses know what's [50:02] going on. I mean, all of a sudden, the windows are covered. They see people going in and out at odd [50:11] hours. They can smell, in some cases, the marijuana. These are not the licensed operations that are legal in [50:21] Maine. These individuals are not following any of the rules and they are operating illegally and causing [50:30] tremendous harm. The fact that your latest reporting shows that there's still 250 houses and that's [50:38] probably an underestimate. It shows how incredibly serious this problem is. And again, think of the [50:49] affordable housing crisis in Maine and Oklahoma and other states. These are houses that become [50:56] uninhabitable because of the amount of black mold that is usually inside of them. So I hope you will [51:06] continue the task force effort because this really requires an all-of-government approach. Thank you. [51:18] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator Collins. Senator Shaheen. [51:22] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to each of our witnesses for being here today. [51:26] Director Cole, I'd like to begin with you. And I'm very pleased that the New England Drug Lab, [51:32] which is located in Londonderry, New Hampshire, has now opened, not officially, but soon. [51:39] And it's soon going to start processing samples. But I am concerned about the capacity, staff capacity [51:46] for that lab. And I understand it's going to take about 50 full-time personnel once it's fully staffed. [51:53] And it's the eighth regional DEA lab. So can you tell me how many positions the DEA needs to fully staff [52:04] all of its labs and whether you have requested money in the budget to do that? Senator, thank you for your [52:12] support of the DEA lab and the funding to go along with it. We are happy to report on time and within budget. [52:20] Right. Two things you often don't hear in government, but on time and within budget. [52:25] We are looking forward to being the subject matter experts and building that capacity there. [52:32] Chemists fully on board. We are ready to go. We are currently hiring the fingerprint specialists [52:37] that are going to be required. But we're committed to have that lab fully staffed to service [52:42] the men and women of local, state, and tribal law enforcement as they continue to identify [52:48] new synthetic strands of opioids that continue to arrive in the United States from Mexico that are [52:54] being fueled by China. It's important to realize that as we continue to identify these strands and [53:01] push out these PSAs, we have a recent PSA, public service announcement that went out last week regarding [53:07] three more strands of synthetic opioids. We're seeing that in New Hampshire and we're very concerned [53:13] about it. So you're comfortable that the money that you've requested in the budget would fully staff [53:19] not just our lab in New England but all of the other seven labs? The great thing about DEA with the [53:26] chemists, they are the highly fully staffed core series at DEA at almost 97%. We have a class in session [53:34] right now of 17 more chemists coming on board. So I'm very confident that we are going to be [53:41] staffing levels at 98, 99% within the next few months. Yes, ma'am. Well, thank you. That's very good news [53:47] for us and the New Hampshire delegation is interested in being helpful in any way we can. [53:55] Director Sorralto, I know that you said that at the Marshall service you can't really control much of the [54:03] work that you have to do, that you have to handle whatever comes your way, but you can control what you [54:10] request in your budget. I noticed that your budget request increased funding of more than 152 million [54:18] for immigration-related activities, but only I think you said 34 million to increase judicial security. [54:25] And I am concerned that given the increase in criminal activity against our federal judges, [54:37] that as you point out, the threats to them are problematic. So can you talk about why the dramatic [54:47] increase in immigration funding, but only about a quarter of that to handle judicial security when [54:55] that's a major aspect of the work that you all do? Thank you, Senator Shaheen. I appreciate that question. [55:03] So our immigration ask for 152 million expands the USMS's participation in the Homeland Security Task [55:12] Forces, whose mission is to disrupt transnational criminal organizations. It also provides funding to [55:20] support the USMS's increased workload in our traditional missions. So the efforts of our immigration work as a nation [55:32] are going to add to the cost of the Marshall services processes. [55:37] I understand that we've just passed billions of dollars for immigration activities and no additional [55:46] funding in the Republican past reconciliation bills to address judicial security. And given, as you point out, [55:53] the threats to judges across this country, don't you think it might be better to rely on [55:59] the billions that are in those bills to address immigration and refocus those dollars for the Marshall [56:06] Service on judicial security and courthouse security? [56:10] Well, Senator, I can tell you the Marshall Service could use the money for the [56:16] security situations with our backlog in construction. That is a big number. That's $484 million. [56:24] Right. I understand that. So who made the determination that you were going to increase immigration [56:29] funding by such a large amount? Well, in staffing the HSTFs, the president has given us money to be able [56:38] to staff those HSTFs. So it is so that we don't take away from judicial security. That's why the number is higher. [56:46] Our judicial security protective operations has gotten a $34 million or the budget proposed a $34 million [56:56] addition. No, I understand. But the $152 million I understood was also an addition. My time is out. [57:03] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator. Senator Graham. [57:09] Thank you. Mr. Cole, what would you say to anybody who wanted to abolish the DEA? [57:15] Well, I would have them take a look at our direct workflow currently where last year [57:26] we seized close to 57 million fentanyl pills in the United States, close to $900 million in [57:34] U.S. currency that came from drug traffickers. The foreign footprint that we currently have, [57:40] you would have cartel members celebrating all over the world, designated terrorists celebrating all [57:45] over the world that DEA was gone. That's a good answer. So terrorists and drug cartels would be [57:50] celebrating. So I just want to say to the men and women of the DEA, thank you. I think you make our [57:57] lives, Emily, safer. You're doing things that most of us wouldn't want to do in the shadows. So I just [58:03] wanted to get on the record my view that you perform a very important function. Director Patel, [58:11] you're doing things that you're going to do in the shadows. When you look at the threat streams against [58:14] our country, are they going up or down? The threat streams, um, over the last year [58:20] in general have gone up over the last few years, which is why you've seen the resulting amount of [58:25] violent criminal arrests. If we're arresting 44,000 people, which is twice as many as the year before, [58:30] that's because there's a lot of violent criminals running around America. But the good news is that the [58:35] FBI along with these men and their agencies are doing the work and arresting people at record levels, [58:40] gangbangers, narcotics traffickers, sex traffickers, terrorists, and those that pose the greatest [58:45] threat to our national security. During the Biden years, they say 11 to 15 million illegal immigrants [58:51] came into the country. Are you familiar with that reporting? Yes, sir. So what are we supposed to do? [58:56] Just ignore it? Well, I, you don't want to ignore it, do you? Not at the FBI, no, sir. Good. I mean, you, [59:04] if you had 11 to 15 million people coming in illegally, you'd want to push back. Do you agree with that? [59:09] Absolutely. We have pushed back, actually. We've reduced violent crime in every single 50, [59:13] every one of our 50 states by an average of 10 points. Yeah. So you've got to plus up the resources [59:18] to deal with what happened, what I would consider a virtual invasion of our country about illegal [59:23] immigrants. And to all of you on the front lines, thank you. I mean, the idea that we wouldn't want [59:28] to do that astounds me. I mean, we've got to get, you know, control over our country again. [59:34] Um, Director Patel, when it comes to systems, do you think the country would be well served, [59:44] have a law like I'm proposing called Logan's Law that would require states to report to the [59:53] Attorney General of the United States the results of all cases involving violent crime, [59:59] where you could get six months or more to include the charge and the plea bargain, [1:00:05] so we'd know better about soft-owned crime prosecutors and judges? [1:00:09] That bill is critical to providing the information that we at the FBI house at our criminal justice [1:00:14] information center, um, Sieges property in West Virginia. We are only as good as the data we're [1:00:20] given. We don't go out and proactively and legally obtain that data from our partner enforcement agencies [1:00:26] across the country. So you would support Logan's Law requiring that to be done? [1:00:29] We need it. Yeah, I think so too. And, um, the man who in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who shot at a [1:00:35] bunch of drivers, he had had a long criminal record. Are you familiar with that? Yes, sir. [1:00:39] As a matter of fact, while he was on probation, he shot at police officers and not much happened to you. [1:00:45] Are you familiar with that? Yes, sir. Do you agree we need to break the cycle of catch and release [1:00:50] and looking the other way when it comes to violent crime in this country? I think catch and release is the [1:00:55] number one cause of recidivist violent crime in the history of the United States of America. [1:00:59] Okay. When it comes to the FBI, how's your morale? I'm sorry? How's your morale at the FBI? [1:01:05] Morale has never been better. When I go across the country and I talk to the line agents and the [1:01:09] intelligence analysts and professional staff, I travel around the country, I talk to our state and [1:01:13] local partners, they tell me one thing resoundingly, we're finally going to do the work that we were [1:01:17] asked to do with the resources that we needed to get the job done and that's what this administration is [1:01:22] focused on and that's why you're seeing the results that we talked about. Mr. Cole, do you think we're [1:01:27] seeing dividends from your focus on illegal drugs and cartels and all of the above? [1:01:34] Absolutely, Senator. And we will stay on the offensive, whether it's taking Nicolas Maduro out of [1:01:40] Venezuela or capturing the next Chapo or helping coordinate the next Mencho operation. We will [1:01:47] continue to target those foreign terrorists that are killing Americans. Do you agree that the Maduro [1:01:54] operation not only was flawless, it sent a new message that a new sheriff's in town and created [1:02:00] deterrence we haven't had before? I think it sent one great message to everybody in the western [1:02:06] hemisphere and the dictators and foreign terrorists around the world that they will be held accountable [1:02:11] for sending this poison to the U.S. Thank you all very much. Senator Coons. Thank you. [1:02:20] Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Chair Moran, Ranking Member Van Hollen, Senator Murkowski, [1:02:26] and I appreciate each of our witnesses for being here today. During National Police Week, [1:02:31] I just wanted to express my particular appreciation for the men and women of each of your agencies. [1:02:37] When I was county executive, I was responsible for the second largest law enforcement agency in our [1:02:41] state and our partnerships with Marshall's ATF, DEA, FBI, and many other elements of federal law [1:02:50] enforcement were really critical to our investigations and working to advance security in my home community. [1:02:57] In just the last few months, the Newcastle County Police have worked with the FBI [1:03:01] to arrest a suspect who had both plans and weapons to carry out a mass shooting at the University of [1:03:06] Delaware, worked with DEA to investigate methamphetamine distributors, worked with the Marshall's [1:03:11] Service to arrest a suspect with a warrant out for attempted murder. These are just a few brief examples. [1:03:17] I have other topics to get to, but if each of you could just briefly tell me, [1:03:21] what are your plans for strengthening your partnerships with local law enforcement, [1:03:25] and what more do you need from Congress to execute on those plans? Director Patel. [1:03:30] Thank you, Senator. One thing we always need more of is data from state and local. [1:03:34] Anything we can do from a legislative perspective at the federal or state level to get us that data [1:03:38] so we can ingest the data and get it back out to our partners, that's critical. [1:03:42] What we're doing to expand, specifically at the FBI, for the first time ever, we stood up our LEPIC, [1:03:48] our Law Enforcement Partner Engagement Council. So I didn't want to just hear from police officers [1:03:52] from around the country by email and phone call. I embedded 10 officers and sheriffs and tribal [1:03:58] officers permanently at the FBI because they're the best connected. And so for us, that's the best [1:04:03] way forward, along with getting out into the field and making sure our field partners see and feel us and [1:04:08] touch us and tell us what their problems are. Thank you, Director. Senator, more connectivity to [1:04:14] our state, local and tribal partners is the utmost importance at DEA. Due with the significant [1:04:20] change in the landscape with synthetic opioids, with more methamphetamine pills coming in, more [1:04:25] cocaine coming in, it's important that those state and local counterparts, the men and women that are on [1:04:31] the front lines every single day have the same intelligence and the same information that the DEA does. [1:04:35] Part of this is coming from our capacity to build foreign partnerships. The amount of foreign [1:04:41] partnerships and people we have downrange in Mexico and Colombia, that intel is critical to the BEAT [1:04:47] officer that's working in rural areas. So we have to continue to be better partners, continue to be more [1:04:52] engaged and respond when they call for help to address violent criminal activity. Director [1:04:58] Seralta, I'm going to interrupt myself. I appreciate the work that you and the Marshall [1:05:01] Service do to keep federal judges safe. But there's thousands of state and local judges who don't [1:05:06] have the same intelligence network, the same resources. I'm proud to co-sponsor a bill with [1:05:12] Senator John Cornyn that creates, would create a new state judicial threat intelligence and resource [1:05:17] center. It would provide security assessments for local courts and help local law enforcement make [1:05:23] assessments about how to keep judges' homes safe and how to keep court personnel safe. It's passed the [1:05:29] Senate unanimously. Do you have any opinion about whether or not the House should take it up and [1:05:34] whether or not partnering with state and local court systems would help advance judicial security in this [1:05:39] country? Senator, thank you. Thank you for your work on that. My opinion will be is that any judge [1:05:49] that we can keep safe, whether they be in state or the federal bench, we should keep safe. To that end, [1:05:58] I'll tell you, judges make decisions that are life-changing, sometimes to themselves. So 50 percent of the [1:06:06] time, someone is upset with the judge's decision, right, whether they win or lose. And that's something [1:06:11] that we need to keep in mind. The justices, judges, the judiciary are the pillars of our country. [1:06:19] I look forward to working with you on protecting and promoting judicial security. Director Patel, [1:06:24] reauthorization of Section 702 is something I've previously grappled with. But we've not heard at [1:06:31] all from officials from the FBI or the other intelligence agencies testifying about the proposed [1:06:38] 18-month clean extension. Were you invited by Chairman Grassley to testify before our committee about [1:06:44] Section 702? What I recall, Senator, is that we and the FBI team have been providing briefings pursuant to [1:06:51] the chairman's request. So we've done at least a dozen in the Senate and at least half a dozen or [1:06:56] more in the House, including myself and Director Ratcliffe personally. [1:06:59] Okay. I have not participated in or benefited from any of those briefings. And doing oversight on the [1:07:05] reforms that were put in place and how closely they're being followed is critical to my concluding [1:07:11] whether or not I'll vote for an extension. Director, I have to ask you one last question. [1:07:15] You attended the Olympics in Milan. How much did your trip cost? And to what extent did that help [1:07:24] you carry out your mission as Director of the FBI? [1:07:28] I greatly appreciate the question, Senator. As you know, the FBI and DHS are responsible for the [1:07:33] security of the Olympics, the World Cup, the F1, the Super Bowl, and everything else. We had 250,000 [1:07:38] Americans travel to Milan. We're proud that we stood up our jock there and had zero major security [1:07:43] incidents involving American citizens. And what we did was we purposely planned that trip around the [1:07:48] Olympics because, as I mentioned in my opening, the top cyber criminal from the CCP was housed in [1:07:54] Italian custody. While there, we were able to work an agreement, an arrangement to have that [1:08:00] individual expelled from Italy instead of going back to China, like has so often happened in places [1:08:05] like Serbia. And so we accomplished that mission and we kept it quiet and that individual was returned to [1:08:10] America two weeks ago. I was concerned that just before we went to war with Iran, a whole group of [1:08:16] FBI agents were terminated, about 10 who were reportedly analysts with expertise in handling Iranian [1:08:24] counterterrorism, fluent in Farsi, long experienced. I know there's ongoing litigation, but have you [1:08:31] replaced them? Was there a reason for their dismissal? Do we have the capabilities we need to protect the [1:08:37] United States while there's an ongoing war in Iran? The public reporting as to the reasons for their [1:08:42] dismissal I found deeply troubling. Well, as I've addressed earlier, I don't believe the public [1:08:47] reporting is accurate. What we did do for the first time in FBI history is stand up the Iran threats [1:08:51] mission center that is housed inside the FBI with our Iran experts, including intelligence analysts and [1:08:57] agents. And we have seen a 47 percent increase in the arrest of Iranian spies. Do you disagree that there [1:09:03] were 10 Iran specialists dismissed right before the war began? Yes. Senator Hegarty. Thank you, [1:09:15] and I want to thank all of you here today to testify. And particularly, I want to thank your staffs [1:09:20] for what they do for our nation. And more importantly, I want to thank you from the people of Tennessee, [1:09:26] specifically what you've done for the people of Memphis. Just very, very much appreciate your efforts. [1:09:31] I'd like to talk with you all about how this administration is making Americans safer and how [1:09:35] it's demonstrated its capacity through its transformative impact on crime and a great [1:09:39] city, Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis boasts a rich cultural history, wonderful people and community [1:09:44] leaders that are dedicated to their city. It's a hub for major logistics and medical device manufacturing, [1:09:49] and it's now also home to advanced technologies like XAI. But it's been troubled by serious violent crime. [1:09:55] Director Patel, I remember in December of 2024, we had a conversation about how Memphis needed an [1:10:01] all-hands approach to deal with this situation. And I asked you at that point, when you were contemplating [1:10:08] coming in to run the FBI, if we could get help from the world's most sophisticated law enforcement [1:10:12] agency to revitalize the city of Memphis. And you were overwhelmingly supportive of that, [1:10:17] and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. In fact, I was so honored to host you in the spring [1:10:22] of 2025 in Tennessee as we let unfold the plan that would actually help rescue Memphis. And it later [1:10:29] became the Memphis Safe Task Force, but it started out under the radar with the efforts that you put in [1:10:35] place. And I thought I'd just get you to expand for the benefit of this committee. The efforts of the [1:10:41] task force, how it was ultimately supported and how it laid the blueprint for, again, becoming the Memphis [1:10:48] Safe Task Force that we've seen today. [1:10:49] Well, you're absolutely right, Senator. It was an interagency lift by the task force that's led by these [1:10:54] gentlemen here on this committee working relentlessly to safeguard not just Memphis, but a place like [1:10:58] Washington. But I thank you for highlighting the FBI's work. Before the task force was stood up, [1:11:03] the FBI launched Operation Viper and Operation Summer Heat. And what we did is launch and deploy [1:11:08] and surge assets across the state of Tennessee, but specifically in Memphis, to cripple the localized [1:11:13] street gangs, the firearms capabilities and drug trades that were just everywhere. And for those that [1:11:19] don't know, I know you know it, Memphis had the highest per capita homicide rate in the country. [1:11:24] And now we've reduced that by, I think, 54%. So what we did was we set the ground. We set the phase [1:11:30] zero one operations with the FBI on the ground. And thanks to the brilliant leadership of Director [1:11:37] Seralta and the President's Task Force, we completed that mission. We're doing Operation Viper in 24 [1:11:43] separate states because we want to replicate what we did in Tennessee to everywhere else. And so we're [1:11:48] welcome to partner up with anyone that wants to replicate that. I applaud that. I'd just like to [1:11:54] say, though, I've seen the great success and I know more to come. But to make certain that it's [1:11:58] permanent, Director Patel, I want to make certain that you've got the resources and the flexibility [1:12:04] that you need from this committee to make that happen. Anything that you'd like to advise us that [1:12:08] you'd like to see to achieve that objective? Well, thanks to you and the leadership in Tennessee, [1:12:12] we just opened up our new office in Memphis to permanently assure the citizens of Tennessee [1:12:18] that we're not going anywhere. And the budget request enhancements that we've put in place will [1:12:22] allow us to hire the agents that we need to fill those billets across the country. [1:12:26] Yeah, that's a nice reversal from previous policy. Thank you. And thanks for all of the effort. [1:12:30] Director Seralta, I'd like to turn to you. Certainly things didn't stop with the FBI's crime task [1:12:35] force. That effort laid the groundwork for the President to issue an executive order establishing [1:12:40] Memphis Safe. Director, given your direct involvement, can you walk me through the results [1:12:46] of the Memphis Safe Task Force from your perspective and where you see it going from here? [1:12:50] Thank you, Senator. Thanks. Thanks to your support and that of your colleagues and [1:12:57] and local government there as well. It's been highly successful. So the President's decisive action [1:13:04] in Memphis proves that when federal government partners with local government leaders, we can turn [1:13:11] the tide against failed experiments in criminal justice reform and make America safe again. [1:13:19] Since launching on August 1st, 2025 and as of April 30th, 2026, I am pleased to report that the operation [1:13:28] has yielded 8,701 total arrests by federal officers, averaging 40 per day, including 64 for homicide, [1:13:38] 957 for narcotics and 791 for firearms violations. We've seized 1,426 illegal firearms in Memphis alone, [1:13:53] an average of six per day. That could have fueled more shootings, assaults or worse in that city. [1:14:00] I'm looking actually at one of the records. We had a daily report on this and I would commend this to [1:14:05] my colleagues. This is amazing work that you're doing. Thank you, Director. I'd hate to cut you [1:14:11] short, but I'd just like to ask you one other question. It's a glaring example to me. When you [1:14:16] have cooperation from a state, from a city, what can happen in the results that you just went through, [1:14:22] dramatic improvement. Rather than calling our law enforcement Gestapo like we've heard in some other [1:14:26] parts of America, we've embraced the help and the results have been dramatic. I'd just like you to share [1:14:33] with us the response you've received from the people of Memphis. So it's 31 agencies working [1:14:40] together. That includes state and local and federal and the operation has had significant positive [1:14:46] impact on the lives of the Memphis residents. The city residents and visitors are now visiting [1:14:54] the downtown area. Local businesses are rallying back. There's been large-scale public events [1:15:01] events that have also shown improved safety outcomes. That was demonstrated in December with the St. Jude [1:15:11] Marathon, which hosted about 22,000 runners and not a single burglary was reported that day. That's [1:15:21] different compared to other years. Perhaps the most telling is one of our special assistant United States [1:15:28] attorneys recently reported that a traveling emergency room doctor expresses appreciation for the task [1:15:35] for what the task force has done. He said that in recent years past, he would have approximately three [1:15:42] to five gunshot wound victims per shift. And now he sees an average of one gunshot victim every three or [1:15:51] four shifts. Still mad. We've made an amazing impact. And the fiscal year 2027 president's budget request [1:15:59] includes a vital program increase for us, $76 million for 200 positions. This is to have that [1:16:07] that staying power that you were talking about earlier with with Director Patel. Thank you, [1:16:12] Director Seralta. I just want to say again, I want to thank all of the employees of the 31 agencies that [1:16:17] have made Memphis safe again. It's an example that I hope my colleagues here on the on the committee will [1:16:23] look to and say this is a true example of where cooperation can make a difference here in America, [1:16:27] and you have transformed a city for us. Senator Murray. Thank you very much. [1:16:33] Thank you for my manners. Thank you for joining us, Vice Chairwoman. [1:16:35] No worries. And I appreciate your presence. [1:16:37] Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Director Patel, [1:16:40] I want to start by recognizing important work by the FBI to crack down on fraud. In one case, [1:16:47] the FBI helped bring justice multiple former business owners who orchestrated a $205 million [1:16:54] Medicare fraud scheme on the American people. And those business owners filed nearly a million [1:17:00] false claims for services that they never provided any patients, literally stealing from American [1:17:05] taxpayers and preying on vulnerable people who were suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia and [1:17:11] substance abuse. But thanks to the FBI, those crooks were held accountable. So I just wanted to [1:17:18] ask you today if you would pass along my gratitude to those FBI agents for their tireless work bringing [1:17:24] those criminals to justice. I will, ma'am. The fraud work is often overlooked and I greatly appreciate [1:17:28] that. And very important. But I do have to say, unfortunately, President Trump, the guy who says [1:17:34] he's going after fraud, granted this man Lawrence Duran clemency last June. He was set free and let off the [1:17:40] the hook for the $87 million he owed in restitution. And Trump granted clemency to Duran's business partner [1:17:49] last February, cutting well short her 35-year prison tomb. He literally undid the important justice work [1:17:56] the FBI served and let fraudsters off the hook. And I find that deeply disturbing. With that, I want to say, [1:18:05] I want to take a moment to reiterate the important role of DOJ law enforcement in keeping all of us safe. [1:18:13] Those agents and deputy marshals are absolutely critical to making sure public safety and solving [1:18:19] crime. But I worry that instead of pursuing these child abusers or terrorists or drug traffickers or [1:18:25] other criminals, you have our agents spending time carrying out Stephen Miller's mass deportation agenda [1:18:32] and harassing families and children. I want to ask you, Director Patel, how many FBI agents have been [1:18:39] reassigned to work on immigration enforcement? No one at the FBI has been reassigned to work [1:18:45] solely on immigration, ma'am. Well, I would differ with you because according to the Cato Institute, [1:18:52] more than 2000 FBI agents were reassigned to work on immigration enforcement in 2025. By the way, [1:19:00] it's not just the FBI. More than 2000 agents from the DEA, more than 600 from the marshal service, [1:19:07] and more than 1000 ATF agents are spending their time on immigration enforcement. That has really [1:19:12] pulled critical, highly trained assets off of work to keep our communities safe from drugs and guns and [1:19:18] other threats. And I find that deeply disturbing. Now, Director Patel, I want to ask you about [1:19:28] a number of extremely troubling troubling stories recently about your leadership and temperament and [1:19:35] what's happened to the FBI with you at the top. And in response to all the concerns about your [1:19:40] leadership, instead of riding the ship, you've taken to polygraphing your employees to scare them [1:19:47] and attempt to rat out leakers. There are reports that you're using FBI resources to investigate journalists [1:19:53] for reporting what's going on. And that is absolutely not what this committee intended when we funded the [1:19:59] Bureau. So can you commit to this committee today that no agent hours have been pulled from other work like [1:20:06] counterterrorism or violent crime investigations to work on matters related to negative press about you or your [1:20:13] personal lawsuit? Senator, I greatly appreciate the question. And I continue unequivocally, this FBI is targeting and [1:20:20] investigating no journalists. This FBI is targeting no journalists. The Obama and Biden [1:20:27] administrations targeted dozens of journalists, sent out 1,200 interviews. I didn't ask you about [1:20:31] the Biden administration. I asked if you can commit to this committee that no agent hours have been [1:20:36] pulled from other work. We have not done so. Okay. Well, there are reports that are using us [1:20:43] FBI resource to investigate journalists. You are saying to this committee today that that is not true. [1:20:48] That's correct, ma'am. Well, let me let me just say, Director Patel, we need a serious budget, [1:20:55] but we also need serious leadership. And I will say this. There's one clear priority in Trump's overall [1:21:03] budget, and it isn't law and order. It is war. Because while Trump is proposing cuts to programs [1:21:09] that really do keep people safe, he wants to increase war spending by half a trillion dollars. [1:21:15] And I don't need to tell anyone here we are not going to bomb our way to safer communities. [1:21:20] So I intend to help rip that budget up and write bills that have keep families safe. But beyond that [1:21:26] budget, we need serious leadership at the FBI that the American people can trust. And I am deeply [1:21:33] concerned about the reports that your leadership has not been serious. We need somebody at this agency [1:21:41] who's focused on solving criminal cases, not passing out branded bourbon or jetting around the globe. [1:21:47] Your job is to be reachable. And I know Senator Van Hollen asked you about this. But I got to say, [1:21:53] if you want to pass out liquor or pop bottles in a locker room, stick to podcasting. Leave law in order [1:21:59] to people who really do care about justice and appearances. That is really critical. And it's what I am [1:22:05] really deeply concerned about. And so are many people. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can I respond? [1:22:10] Good. This is what real leadership looks like at the FBI. Every one of you was given it. This is [1:22:19] what's happened under my tenure at the FBI and the Trump administration. 20-point drop in the homicide [1:22:24] rate. 45,000 violent offenders arrested last year, twice as many as 2024. 2,450 criminal gangs [1:22:31] disrupted. That's a 322% increase from 2024. 6,900 child victims have been located since I've been in the [1:22:39] seat. That's 144% increase. 2,900 child predators and human traffickers arrested. That's a 70% increase. [1:22:46] And we've arrested eight of the top 10 most wanted fugitives in the world in 14 months. [1:22:50] That's twice as many in the four years combined. That is what the men and women in the FBI are doing. [1:22:55] Well-resourced. Everyone should take a look at this. If people want to continue the baseless, [1:22:59] fraudulent, false personal attacks at me, that's great. Keep the target on me, as I've always said. [1:23:04] But the mission has never been better. Mr. Chairman, if I could just respond. Senator Murray. [1:23:09] I appreciate the work of our FBI agents. But leadership, serious leadership is a concern. [1:23:17] And we are seeing the pictures of passing out branded bourbon and what happened at the Olympics, [1:23:22] jetting around the globe and all the rest of it. And that, I will say again, Mr. Chairman, [1:23:28] is of deep concern to me. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Senator Fischer. [1:23:32] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you, gentlemen, for being here today. I'd like to begin with the [1:23:38] agency that you lead, Director Patel. Over the past decade or so, the FBI has come under intense [1:23:46] and justified scrutiny for perceived and actual misuse of agency personnel and resources for political [1:23:55] objectives. Director Patel, what steps have you taken to refocus the Bureau to its core missions [1:24:03] of counterterrorism and counterintelligence on federal law enforcement and on criminal justice? [1:24:10] Thank you, Senator. I think the weaponization of law enforcement that you spoke of [1:24:14] was caused by the centralization of the FBI in the National Capital Region. What I mean by that is, [1:24:19] before I got in the seat, over one-third of the entire FBI workforce was located in the National [1:24:24] Capital Region. When I got here, I put 1,000 agents into the field permanently. Every single state got [1:24:29] more agents than they've ever had. Behind that, I sent 300 intelligence analysts into the field [1:24:34] permanently. Behind that, I sent 500 support staff and program managers into the field permanently. [1:24:40] And that's only CONUS. We've also expanded our overseas footprint. So decentralizing the bureaucracy of [1:24:46] Washington, removing the red tape and the bureaucracy, putting agents in the field, in Nebraska and [1:24:51] everywhere else, is how we're getting the mission done. And no one at this FBI is allowed to politicize [1:24:56] or weaponize law enforcement. If you do, you don't get to work there anymore. [1:24:59] Thank you. We all know that our country faces mounting and increasingly complex threats to our [1:25:08] homeland from foreign adversaries and domestic operatives who are acting on behalf of these malign foreign [1:25:15] interests. These adversaries have seized on several recent global conflicts to try and undermine [1:25:22] America's geopolitical interests by sowing fear and dissension here at home. The FBI is tasked with [1:25:30] investigating foreign and domestic threats to the United States. Director, can you tell us how is the [1:25:37] Bureau coordinating with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, other members of the [1:25:44] intelligence community and the military to monitor and mitigate threats to our homeland? [1:25:50] What we've done specifically with the Homeland Security Task Force in 59 separate locations [1:25:55] is bring in every single agency into one roof and centralize the collected intelligence that they [1:26:01] all piece together with their state and local partners. That's critical to the mission set. [1:26:05] We've also done things like stand up to C4, the counter coordination fusion cell, [1:26:09] in southwest Arizona, specifically targeting the drug trade with embedded DOD on a DOD facility, [1:26:16] on a DOW facility. So we're leveraging all capabilities across the border. CI and CT work [1:26:21] could not be stronger. We have 2,000 terrorism cases at the FBI. Our CI work has expanded, not gone down. [1:26:28] As I've said, we've arrested 44% more espionage actors from China, Russia, the DPRK, and Iran alone. [1:26:34] And we're doing that because the interagency, including the intel community, [1:26:37] is finally providing us with ways to turn information and intel into evidence that we [1:26:41] can use in a court of law. Thank you, Director. And please thank the [1:26:46] members of the FBI for me as well. Administrator Cole, from the Chinese precursor chemicals to the [1:26:54] cartel-facilitated cross-border smuggling efforts, the global supply chain undergirding that illicit drug [1:27:02] trade has posed a serious challenge for federal law enforcement. And the DEA and other federal agencies [1:27:09] have made outstanding progress in exposing and disrupting various aspects of this often opaque [1:27:16] and disturbingly well resourced network. Administrator, I was on a codel with the chairman [1:27:23] of this subcommittee in China. And the precursors to fentanyl is something that we brought up to various [1:27:31] officials and the Chinese government. Have you seen a change in the illicit drug trade in recent years, [1:27:42] and especially with your time at the agencies? What are we seeing on the ground? [1:27:50] At the ground level, the teams are working extremely well, not only in China, under the ambassador's [1:27:57] leadership, but as we continue to target the Mexican cartels, Sinaloa and CGNG that receive the precursor chemicals, [1:28:05] we need to make sure that we keep an eye on the northern border as well. We see more precursors coming [1:28:11] into the port of Vancouver, coming into Canada, and the Canadians through with the Mexican cartels in country [1:28:18] have started producing and manufacturing fentanyl in Canada. In the last two months, [1:28:24] there's been significant seizures of fentanyl in Canada. Do they cross our country to get there? [1:28:31] They arrive at the port of Vancouver, and then they transition through Canada to the different [1:28:36] source locations for manufacturing production, and then it comes across our northern border. [1:28:41] It's something that everybody at this table is worried about. We continue to keep the pressure on [1:28:47] China, on India, continue to target the leadership in the cartels, [1:28:51] but very conscious of what's going on in the northern border as well. [1:28:56] Thank you, and thank you all for the work that you do. [1:28:59] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:29:01] Senator Reid. [1:29:07] Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Director Sakata, [1:29:10] you've been neglected. I can't let that go. First of all, let me thank you for your, [1:29:14] I calculate, 20 years of service in the ATF, and prior to that as a police officer in New York, [1:29:20] in Plainville, Florida? [1:29:22] In Plantation, Florida. [1:29:24] Plantation, close enough. [1:29:25] Yeah. [1:29:26] But I want to focus on those devices which turn, transform a semi-automatic rifle into an automatic [1:29:37] rifle. For many years, the federal government took a position that forced reset triggers were, [1:29:42] in fact, illegal. And yet, there was a case in which, in 2025, the DOJ reversed itself. And they, [1:29:51] essentially, by their reversal, allowed these forced reset triggers to become legal. And all you have [1:30:01] to do is buy one, find one, go to YouTube, look at the YouTube, takes about two minutes to put it in [1:30:08] in the weapon. And now you're firing at about 30 rounds in four seconds, which my experience, and I did [1:30:18] professionally carry an M16, is that's an automatic weapon. What are we going to do to prevent [1:30:26] these types of devices from getting out and raising the threat to the public? [1:30:32] Good afternoon, Senator. Thank you for your question. I think just to stay focused on the [1:30:40] topic of machine gun conversion devices, they come in all shapes and forms. Some referred to as [1:30:47] switches as they are sometimes put into semi-automatic pistols to convert from semi-automatic to full [1:30:53] automatic drop-in auto seers for rifles. And ATF has been dealing with an issue related to this for [1:31:00] many, many years. The technology has made this proliferate much easier because many of these are either [1:31:07] 3D printed now or manufactured in China and shipped to the United States by the container load in some [1:31:14] cases. As it relates to the force reset trigger, I'd like to answer that question. That particular type of [1:31:22] device was litigated and settled with the Department of Justice not too long ago. I won't be able to [1:31:31] comment too much on that specific settlement with the Department of Justice, but it relates to [1:31:36] the force reset trigger itself. There are many other types of devices that convert firearms to [1:31:45] shoot from semi-automatic to full auto. What we are doing with our partners, state and local partners, [1:31:51] our federal partners, and our agents, the devices that have already been determined to be [1:31:58] drop-in auto seers, other conversion devices, they remain the same. This settlement relates [1:32:04] specifically to the force reset trigger made by rare breed. And I think there's a misconception that [1:32:11] this applies to all types of trigger packs that are out there that increase the rate of fire that do [1:32:17] not operate in the same way that the force reset trigger made by a rare breed does. So it's a very [1:32:22] technical, nuanced matter. And our folks at ATF are asking our partners to initiate with us so we can [1:32:30] actually examine these devices to see if they're under that settlement or if they actually fall into the [1:32:35] other category. The Washington Post reported that the ATF's chief counsel, Rob Leder, objected to the [1:32:42] settlement and reportedly thought that, quote, the devices are dangerous and the classification machine [1:32:47] guns should stand. Did you or your predecessor object to the finding? And is Mr. Leder's objection sound? [1:32:59] He's an expert in the law of machine guns. Yeah, I think, sir, that this is a matter that Mr. Leder [1:33:08] found to be a very technically nuanced issue in the way that trigger operates. It's a little bit [1:33:14] challenging to explain here in this room, but I think if we were able to demonstrate the way they operate [1:33:21] as compared to a switch like a drop-in auto seer, there's a clear difference. And I think that's where we [1:33:26] found room for the settlement that Mr. Leder participated in. Well, I would suggest that you're [1:33:32] looking at the wrong criteria, in my view, based on, again, carrying an M16. It's the rate of fire. [1:33:40] It's not the construction of the seer or it's a trigger effect. And when you have a rate of fire of 30 [1:33:46] rounds in four seconds, that's an automatic weapon. And I think that's the way you should [1:33:50] characterize your weapons. If you need congressional support, please call me. [1:33:56] If I may, sir, I think I understand where you're coming from. And the rate of fire, [1:34:01] unfortunately, is not what the statute defines the machine gun mice. [1:34:05] Well, we should change the statute. Thank you very much. [1:34:09] Senator Britt. Mr. Chairman, thank you so much. I want to thank all of our witnesses for being here [1:34:17] today. Director Patel, I'd like to start with you. I want to just highlight some of the great work [1:34:21] that the FBI has done in Alabama. So over the last year, we have seen the Bureau oversee the arrest [1:34:29] of 1,187 criminals. We have seen you seize 31 kilograms of cocaine and over three grams of [1:34:39] fentanyl. If you look over just the last four months alone, you have arrested 152 criminals, 15 of [1:34:47] which have crimes related to human trafficking or crimes against children. And that includes a two-week [1:34:54] operation, Operation Southern Star in Montgomery, Alabama, which was an interagency operation where I [1:35:01] believe you had 63 arrests, 52 guns recovered, and 40 drug seizures. As a resident of Montgomery, [1:35:13] and as someone who is raising her children there, I want to say thank you. On behalf of me, on behalf [1:35:19] of all the moms and dads that are raising their family there, and on behalf of our community, we say [1:35:24] thank you. And I know that this is not just Alabama where you're doing this. You're doing this across [1:35:29] the country. It is why the FBI has overseen the largest dip in recorded murders in history. I just want [1:35:37] to say thank you. And I think it is also why you have asked for a significant increase when it comes to [1:35:42] actually returning to your mission of putting criminals behind bars. I completely support that [1:35:49] request and just want you to kind of expand what that would do. Can you talk about how that increase [1:35:56] would help you continue the good work that you're doing in Alabama, going after criminals, violent [1:36:01] criminals, cartels, and others? And of course, across the country as well. Thank you, Senator. I will [1:36:08] pass on your kind words to the workforce for sure. They're greatly appreciated. We're doing two things. [1:36:13] As I discussed earlier, decentralizing Washington, D.C., and putting human capital in the field. And in [1:36:20] order to keep backfilling that human capital, we need more. So we need to take on the outdated [1:36:25] onboarding pipeline program at Quantico. We've seen the BFTC or Quantico graduation classes increase [1:36:31] since I've been in the spot because it used to take over 14 months to get in. And we've shrunk [1:36:36] that by over four months. We haven't lowered the standards. We just eliminated the wait time [1:36:41] after a paperwork application was put in. But what we also need to do is work with our state and local [1:36:46] folks in the field and provide them with the advanced training capabilities they need. Specifically, [1:36:52] for instance, the drone program capability. We launched the first ever of its kind for state and [1:36:56] locals ever in the history of the U.S., a drone, a counter UAS program down at the Redstone Arsenal [1:37:01] in Huntsville, Alabama. We've graduated 65 state cops from that program. The wait list is long. [1:37:09] Every single agency across the country wants their police officers there because they want them there [1:37:13] for the World Cup. They want them there for sporting events. They want them there for counter narcotics. [1:37:17] So the enhancements we've requested specifically relate to Arsenal, Redstone Arsenal, our advanced [1:37:22] training capabilities, including our cyber center, our TDAC school. And we're the only ones in the world [1:37:26] that have a ballistic research facility that's housed at Redstone Arsenal. That's how we train the next [1:37:32] generation of law enforcement officials. And we need more seats, more humans in the seats that we have. [1:37:38] Wonderful. Well, I hope that we will continue to support that. I know the work that you're doing there [1:37:43] is cutting edge and it is also preparing us for what's to come. So thank you. And thank the men and women [1:37:47] who work alongside you for making all of this happen. Director Cicada, I know that we discussed at your [1:37:53] confirmation hearing the great work the ATF is doing to combat the flow of illicit Chinese vapes [1:37:59] into our nation. And I also know, Director Ceralta, that the Marshall Service was involved in some of [1:38:08] the recent seizures that we saw as well. These unsafe products target kids in many instances. And I think [1:38:15] we have got to put a stop to this. Can you discuss how you think that your budget request for these [1:38:20] agencies is going to allow you to enhance your efforts in these space and get these off of our [1:38:26] streets? Good afternoon, Senator. Thank you for your question. As you mentioned, Director Ceralta, [1:38:33] myself, Director Cole, Administrator Cole, I'm sorry, and our partners at the FDA are working hand-in-hand [1:38:40] to identify these wholesalers and retailers that are dealing in these illicit vapes. I can speak for [1:38:49] ATF. We are very short-staffed as far as our agents go and our agents are primarily focused on the violent [1:38:55] crime efforts that we're making around the country. Although we are greatly appreciative of the [1:39:01] President's proposed budget for 2027, that budget maintains current services. It doesn't allow for [1:39:08] expansion into other areas. So we would love to have more agents to focus on this effort in particular. [1:39:17] But it's very challenging for us to do so with the budget that we have. Absolutely. And I am out of [1:39:21] time. I just want to associate myself with the Chairman's comments with regards to the Marshall [1:39:25] Services and the protection that we provide our judges from our Justices to our Circuit Court, [1:39:31] to our DJs. We need to make sure that you have the resources you need to keep them safe. Thank you. [1:39:37] Thank you, Senator. Senator Burt, thank you. Senator Peters? [1:39:41] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And to our witnesses here today, thank you. Thank you to each of you [1:39:46] for the work that you do every day, especially during National Police Week, as we all gather here. [1:39:52] So again, thank you. Director Patel, we are now more than two months into a war with Iran, [1:40:00] a leading sponsor of terrorism. And we have already seen at least three terrorist attacks related to that [1:40:07] war, including one at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, where a Hezbollah-inspired attacker [1:40:14] rammed a vehicle into a synagogue holding approximately 100 young children. And yet the FBI [1:40:22] has not yet put out an intelligence bulletin about the threats to the homeland resulting from this war. [1:40:29] Something that is, as I think you know, usually standard action in coordination with the National [1:40:34] Counterterrorism Center and DHS. And it's absolutely essential to ensuring that state, local, tribal, [1:40:42] and territorial private sector partners are prepared for these threats that we are seeing and actual [1:40:48] actions that we're seeing. So my question for you, Director Patel, just to confirm, has the FBI, [1:40:54] in coordination with NCTC and DHS, issued a joint homeland threat intelligence bulletin to state, [1:41:01] local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners on the threats from Iran and its proxies [1:41:07] as a result of this war. I know we have pushed out numerous PSAs, and I believe through the ODNI, [1:41:13] we have spoken collectively on the matter. But on the synagogue attack, the FBI directly coordinated [1:41:20] with the synagogue three weeks before and provided training, which the synagogue themselves stated, [1:41:25] um, helped prevent, uh, the loss of- No, I agree with that. Certainly I'll- I have a question later, [1:41:30] but that was a good thing. Absolutely. But is there a coordinated bulletin going out to- to all the [1:41:35] entities that I mentioned? We have not found that bulletin. We have not seen that. That has been prior [1:41:39] practice for the FBI. I'm wondering why this is different this time. That's my question. So what- [1:41:43] what I'm saying is we've sent out- the FBI sent out PSAs to all our state and local partners, [1:41:48] and I'll check with ODNI, but we should have sent out a coordinated, collected message out on that [1:41:53] front. Well, well, if you could forward that to me, because we have not seen that. So I'd appreciate [1:41:56] that if that's the case. Yes, sir. If you could forward that to our office, I- I would, uh, appreciate [1:41:59] it. Senator Peters, is a PSA the same thing that Senator Peters is asking about? Yes. Okay. [1:42:05] Thanks. We'll see. Um, I'm, uh, as ranking, uh, member of Homeland Security and Government Affairs, [1:42:10] uh, uh, uh, Chairman Paul and I, working in a bipartisan way, Chairman Paul, [1:42:15] have requested a committee briefing, uh, about these threats, about the threats related to what's [1:42:19] happening, uh, as a result of the war in Iran. Uh, about a month and a half ago, we're still waiting [1:42:25] to get that briefing from the FBI, and we're the Committee on Homeland Security in the U.S. Senate. [1:42:30] Can I get a commitment from you that we will get that briefing as soon as possible? [1:42:33] Absolutely. Good. Thank you. Uh, [1:42:35] Director Patel, for decades, uh, uh, the FBI, uh, in partnership with the, uh, Cybersecurity [1:42:41] and Infrastructure Security Agency, uh, has played, uh, uh, an absolutely critical role [1:42:46] in helping, uh, both state and local election officials, uh, defend against, uh, threats, [1:42:51] uh, to our election. Uh, the FBI briefed election officials on both physical as well as cyber threats. [1:42:58] It's helped political parties and campaigns, uh, secure their communication systems, uh, uh, [1:43:03] that has investigated, uh, foreign influence operations, and it's investigated threats, uh, [1:43:09] against, uh, our election workers. Uh, and the work was, uh, was bipartisan. Uh, it was technical, [1:43:15] uh, and it was, uh, trusted over those years. However, today, when we look, uh, at what the FBI [1:43:21] is doing, it seems to be somewhat different. Uh, in January, the FBI seized more than 650 boxes [1:43:27] of 2020 election materials from Fulton County, Georgia. Uh, in March, the FBI subpoenaed records [1:43:34] from a 2020 election audit in Maricopa County, Arizona, an audit, uh, that itself, uh, actually [1:43:40] reaffirmed, uh, President Biden's, uh, uh, win. And in April, the Justice Department demanded that [1:43:47] Wayne County, Michigan, the largest county in my state, turn over ballots, uh, from the 2024 election. [1:43:54] So, Director Patel, my question is, why should state and local election officials trust [1:44:00] the FBI to support them in actually keeping our elections free and fair when the FBI [1:44:06] recently appears to be more focused on supporting baseless speculation and debunked conspiracy [1:44:13] theories about both the 2020 and the 2024 election? Well, two things, Senator. Thank you. Um, [1:44:18] as to the, um, execution of legal search processes, we went to federal and state magistrates and, [1:44:25] like we do in any case, and received, uh, ruling of probable cause to advance any [1:44:29] investigations we're working on. As to the overall security of the election, that is of primary [1:44:34] importance with us, which is why we at the FBI and me have installed ECC's election county [1:44:39] coordinators in every single 56th field office that I have. We've also stood up a national security, [1:44:45] uh, election security, uh, post at headquarters for the upcoming midterm elections. And so we are [1:44:51] continuing to keep that a priority and collect information as it comes in from overseas and [1:44:56] also around the country. Well, that was my follow-up question there. [1:44:59] I mean, but you know, what we've been seeing some of these actions here are ones that are related to [1:45:04] these debunked theories, but our officials want to know what is going to happen going forward. [1:45:09] They're going to want to ensure that state and local elections are indeed, uh, going to be free [1:45:13] and fair and folks are being protected by the FBI. You mentioned a couple of initiatives. What, what, [1:45:18] what is the main message that you want to tell right now to election officials all across the United [1:45:23] States that the FBI is actually going to be their partner to ensure, as we have seen in the past, [1:45:27] free and fair elections that have occurred every single election in the United States in recent [1:45:32] history, that it's also going to happen again this, uh, this year. That's why we've prioritized and [1:45:37] stood up these ECCs. That's why we've prioritized and stood up these national coordination centers. [1:45:41] And that's why we're hand in glove embedded with CISA and DHS, uh, to ensure the integrity of this [1:45:46] upcoming election. We have prioritized that. We have flexed more resources that, including the personnel [1:45:51] I've shifted out to the field. So they're not just at headquarters, are working on election security [1:45:55] and election integrity around the country. Well, as you, uh, come before the, uh, Committee [1:46:00] on Homeland Security, which I appreciate your commitment, uh, to, to have that briefing, uh, [1:46:04] we're going to want to do a deeper dive into that and I would hope you'd be prepared to do it at that [1:46:07] time and you could commit to doing that. Thank you, Senator. Thank you. Thank you, [1:46:10] Mr. Chairman. Thank you, uh, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, uh, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, [1:46:21] directors, all of you for your, your good work. Um, I'm sure you have figured out by now that, uh, uh, [1:46:35] you're, you're not going to be able to make some people in Washington DC happy. Um, it just, uh, [1:46:44] I regret that. Uh, one of my colleagues talks, uh, Director Patel about you traveling too much. Um, [1:46:57] um, is it important that you go out there and travel and talk to our line agents and try to [1:47:05] maintain morale? That's, that's one of the most important parts of the job. And if I can, uh, [1:47:11] when it comes to travel, I've actually traveled one third less for personal holidays than my prior, [1:47:16] two predecessors combined. And I've taken half as many days off as my prior predecessors combined. [1:47:21] Yeah. Have you ever seen, uh, United States senators travel, including overseas? Frequently. [1:47:29] Frequently. You've seen that? Yeah. Yes, sir. I want to ask, uh, you and Director Cole, [1:47:39] um, I see where the Department of Justice, presumably with your, your, your, your cooperation [1:47:49] and good background work, just indicted a governor in Mexico for, uh, for, for, uh, uh, working with [1:48:00] cartels to poison our people, uh, which I, I, everybody's entitled to a defense and they're [1:48:10] innocent until proven guilty. But I, I saw none of that in, uh, in term, in the, in the prior [1:48:17] administration. We're trying to get serious. Tell me, I love the people of Mexico. They're just [1:48:26] wonderful people. They're our neighbors. We, we, we buy a lot of their goods and they buy a lot of our [1:48:31] goods. But help me understand why the, the, so many of the, the political leaders in Mexico, [1:48:43] uh, cooperate so fully, well, strike that, tend to have very close ties with the drug cartels. Is it [1:48:53] money? Is it, is it power? Is it fear? And what do we do about it? Uh, I'll, I'll address it generally. [1:49:01] The case is specifically the DEA's Senator, but generally speaking, you know, we've been able to, [1:49:06] um, retrieve 98, um, uh, defendants from Mexico in the last year, which is I think triple, uh, [1:49:13] the year before. So they're cooperating ways that they haven't done before in the past, [1:49:18] but I do see your point and I agree that largely it's fear Senator. These cartels have so much power [1:49:24] and you've seen them go down there and kidnap people, behead people, burn people. And I think [1:49:29] it's, um, a combination of the fear and a little bit of the corruption, um, because of the influence [1:49:33] they have with the amount of money they make from the narco trafficking trade, which is why we're [1:49:37] prioritizing, uh, bringing it down. Mr. Director. Senator, it's good to see you again. [1:49:43] Good to see you, sir. And I testified during my, uh, confirmation hearing, [1:49:46] Yes, sir. Regarding the arrests of Garcia Luna, who was, who was in charge of the federal police in [1:49:51] Mexico. Mm-hmm. And after, uh, a career special agent, [1:49:55] and I had the opportunity to work in Colombia, Afghanistan and end my career in Mexico, [1:50:00] there's no doubt that the narco traffickers and high ranking government officials in Mexico [1:50:05] have been in bed for years, but for all of a sudden we're paying attention to it. [1:50:12] Mm-hmm. [1:50:12] We have a president of fully supports America first Americans first. They are just as much [1:50:18] responsible for the death and destruction of record amounts of Americans by cooperating, [1:50:24] by conspiring, by helping producing this poison to come across the border and come into our country. [1:50:33] And Senator, I can assure you, this is just the start of, about what's to come in Mexico. [1:50:40] Good. I think it's important, and, and I don't want to paint with too broad of a brush, [1:50:45] but I think it's important that we, we, we keep the pressure on. And I appreciate the good work [1:50:53] that both of your agencies have done and that the president has done. Um, because when, when a, when a, [1:51:03] the current president didn't do this, but when a prior president of Mexico runs on a platform [1:51:10] of, uh, hugs, not bullets, with respect to the cartels, that, that sort of speaks volumes about what [1:51:18] they're willing to be, to tolerate. Can, can I ask one question, Mr. Pre-, Mr. Chairman of, of [1:51:25] Director Patel, tell me why we shouldn't require warrants under Section 702 when our intelligence [1:51:37] people access the records of American citizens? I think you're referring to the query process [1:51:43] of U.S. persons under 702, Senator. Yes, sir. Because under Section 702 as it stands, [1:51:49] the collection from 702 is already lawfully collected under federal statute of overseas individuals [1:51:57] targeted by the intelligence communities. And just to clarify, 702 is run separately by the FBI, [1:52:02] the NSA, the CIA, they have their own separate 702 programs. So for us, in order to, um, have the [1:52:09] ability to defend the homeland appropriately, all we are doing when we run a query is we're asking that [1:52:15] this selector popped and we have no other information. So it would be factually and legally [1:52:21] impossible to obtain probable cause because we just walk into a courtroom and say, [1:52:25] we got this selector. It's connected with so-and-so lawfully collected information overseas. [1:52:30] We can't tell you, Judge, anything else about it. They would say you don't have probable cause. And [1:52:35] that's why the query system exists to go in and see if they're actually connected to any terrorist [1:52:41] activities or narcotics trafficking activities or otherwise. Thank you for your indulgence, Mr. [1:52:46] Chairman. Senator Kennedy, thank you. Senator Murkowski. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:52:51] Uh, gentlemen, thank you for, for being here today. Your testimony, uh, last week we recognized May 5th [1:52:57] as, uh, day to, um, to remember those who have gone murdered missing indigenous persons. Um, uh, [1:53:08] unfortunately in Alaska, this is, this is something that, uh, we, we use some pretty strong words like [1:53:15] epidemic and crisis. Um, the, uh, the Urban Indian Health Institute, uh, has reports on the numbers [1:53:25] that are out there right now. And, and in Alaska, we've got, uh, 229, um, murdered, missing indigenous [1:53:32] persons, 80 murdered, 149 that are on the missing list. Um, and the statistic that is always so troubling [1:53:40] is that when, when women go missing, when women come up, are determined, um, to have been murdered, [1:53:48] 75% of them are Alaska Native women. I mean, the statistics are just shocking and deeply, deeply [1:53:54] troubling. Alaska is the fourth highest state, um, when it comes to murdered, missing, um, indigenous [1:54:00] women in the country. Obviously, we have a large indigenous population, but it is, it is something [1:54:06] where you, when you listen to the statements from so many native women, uh, that they feel unsafe [1:54:13] in, in their home, uh, communities. They feel unsafe in their villages and they feel, uh, probably most [1:54:21] unsafe in the biggest village, which is, which is Anchorage. We are, we're working on, uh, trying to, [1:54:28] to, to make some headway, uh, here, um, in this space. But we really need to understand where the gaps [1:54:38] are. And we talk a lot about the data, data gaps. And so I'm raising this with you, uh, Director Patel, [1:54:45] and asking for, for your support and that of your team. You have great folks in Alaska, but I would [1:54:52] suggest that, um, given, given, given we have a small population, big, big, uh, land mass, um, and, [1:55:01] and a problem and statistics that just don't, don't match up to our demographics, that we need some help. [1:55:09] Um, uh, we've got good cooperation between all of our federal agencies working with our tribal partners [1:55:16] and, and with the state. Um, but I would just ask your commitment today that if you, if you have an [1:55:22] already trained, uh, a focus in this area that you will commit to, to helping us in Alaska. [1:55:29] Absolutely, Senator. That's why we launched Operation Steadfast Promise, which is the first [1:55:33] ever of its kind, year long campaign for crimes on tribal lands, um, across the country to include [1:55:39] Alaska. And I'm proud to tell you today that one of the biggest problems I was informed about over the [1:55:44] last 14 months was communication gaps. Um, and the FBI for the first time ever, um, completed its pilot [1:55:51] program, um, in, uh, on the Navajo reservation down in Phoenix area, um, with Starlink capabilities. [1:55:57] And we are now going to be delivering to every SAC, um, Starlink capabilities specifically and solely for [1:56:04] communications on tribal lands to conduct and investigate tribal investigations. [1:56:08] Well, and I just might add that, that the communications is one thing amongst the, uh, uh, uh, [1:56:15] the law enforcement, but it's also communicating back to the families. [1:56:19] The families that are so anxious. And this is, this is where I think we have some, some, [1:56:24] some real failures, uh, if you will. And, you know, I'm, I'm stressing it with, with regards to Alaska, [1:56:30] but it is Alaska natives, but also American Indians, as you've pointed out there. So, [1:56:35] I appreciate your commitment on that level. Um, I wanted to ask about your comment, uh, Administrator [1:56:43] Cole, when you were talking about, uh, the fentanyl that we're seeing, um, coming from China into [1:56:49] Canada and then coming back in, um, Vancouver is not too far away from where we're sitting over there, [1:56:56] um, in the, in the Northwest. Uh, I, I, I want to just confirm that as we are focusing on, on intercepts [1:57:07] at the, at the Southern border, we're not taking our eye off the ball when it comes to, [1:57:13] to the Northern border. And this is, this is to you, uh, Administrator Cole, when it comes to the drugs, [1:57:19] but also to you, Director, uh, Patel, in terms of the, uh, the, the, the terrorist threats that we may [1:57:26] see, um, uh, who may be looking to the Northern border as perhaps being more porous, um, certainly longer [1:57:36] in my state. So if, if the two of you can speak to that. Senator, from a DEA perspective, uh, [1:57:43] we're keeping our eye on Canada. We're going to open two more offices in Canada, uh, proposed for 27, [1:57:51] but we will continue to do outreach. We'll continue to work with the tribal and the Native Americans [1:57:55] when it comes to educating them, providing them the resources. But number two, the tremendous working [1:58:01] relationship we have with the U.S. Postal Service with intercepting packages that are leaving the [1:58:06] states going into Alaska. Uh, for example, in April, we, we had a targeted enforcement where we got 10 [1:58:12] kilos of fentanyl and multiple packages that were going into Alaska and five kilos of methamphetamine [1:58:18] that we're leaving domestically going into, uh, Alaska as well. So this is the importance of the [1:58:24] holistic approach, opening more offices, but keeping our eye on this cause and effect that we see from the [1:58:31] Mexican cartels now entering into Canada. Thank you. Director. Yes, Senator. What we've done [1:58:36] specifically on the Northern border front is launch and, and put up, stand up the first of its kind [1:58:42] Homeland Security Task Force in Alaska, uh, which allows us to take a lot of the funding and resources [1:58:47] that we have access to and put more agents and intel folks, not just from the FBI, but from the other [1:58:52] agencies across the board. And what we've also focused on, at least at the FBI, is working with our [1:58:58] Canadian partners on the production capabilities that the drug traffickers have moved up to the [1:59:03] north, north of our border and specifically fly into Alaska and also into mainland America on tribal [1:59:10] lands. And we've had some success there, uh, working with our Canadian partners because the drug traffickers [1:59:15] got smart, uh, with the securitization of the Southern border and moved it up there. So we're tackling that [1:59:20] with our, um, cease partners. Thank you for not taking the ball off that. I have a question for, uh, [1:59:25] uh, Director, uh, Ceralta regarding the federal detention facility in Alaska. We do not have a [1:59:34] federal detention facility in our state. So all federal inmates either has to be, have to be housed [1:59:40] at a state, uh, prison or more often they're just sent out of state. And it's, it has at, at considerable [1:59:48] cost to our U.S. Marshals to transport these federal inmates. Um, we have asked for a, uh, [1:59:55] feasibility study to, to determine whether it's now time to do that. The last time that this was [2:00:02] reviewed was over 20 years ago at Senator Stevens' request. I've got report language in a past [2:00:09] appropriations bill about a new study, but quite honestly, the, the response that we received from [2:00:14] the department has really been pretty, um, lacking in detail. And so, um, I would, would ask you, [2:00:22] Director, if you'd be willing to take a look at this and have a conversation with us about, uh, [2:00:27] the need in the state of Alaska. Senator, uh, thank you for your question. The, the answer to your [2:00:32] question is, uh, yes, I'm, I'm willing to look at anything that will facilitate the processing of [2:00:38] prisoners in a safe manner. However, I, I have to note that we, we use about 80 percent of our jails are [2:00:47] state and locals. That's throughout the nation. So it's not uncommon. However, uh, there, there is a, [2:00:53] uh, perhaps a, a bureau of prison, um, uh, uh, prison project that may, may work well in Alaska. [2:01:05] But I, I would have to see what... I, I, I'd look forward to a conversation with you about it. We, [2:01:10] um, unfortunately don't have anything that comes cheap when it comes to taking care of, uh, [2:01:15] uh, our federal inmates, whether it's on the state side or shipping them out. And so, [2:01:20] it is a cost matter, um, but it also, uh, is a great burden on our U.S. Marshals. And I [2:01:25] appreciate the good work that you do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Thank you, [2:01:29] Senator Murkowski. Uh, Senator Van Hollen is, and I are going to just have a couple of wrap-up [2:01:34] questions and then we'll conclude the hearing and I'll turn to Senator Van Hollen. Uh, thank you, [2:01:40] Mr. Chairman. So, Director Patel, I've been listening carefully to your responses to some of my [2:01:45] colleagues. And, uh, I want to start with the question that Senator Coons asked you that relates [2:01:51] to this article where the headline is, Kash Patel's latest firing, firings ousted agents with expertise [2:01:59] in Iran. Uh, the article says that these individuals were, uh, fired for their role in the classified [2:02:09] documents investigations of Donald Trump. First of all, is that true? Uh, the article, just like all [2:02:15] the other articles you cited is false. And there's ongoing litigation, so I can't address it. [2:02:20] Okay. Did, you, you did answer, Senator Coons, and I understood your answer to me that the people [2:02:25] that were fired, that none of them were part of the, uh, group that had Iran expertise. Is that, [2:02:30] is that your answer? No, he asked if they were Iran experts. I said they were not. [2:02:34] Do you, did the, were the group fired? Did it include people who were Iran experts? [2:02:40] No. Did it include people who were involved in counter espionage activities with respect to Iran? [2:02:48] I don't have the list in front of me. So you don't know whether or not you [2:02:52] fired people with counter executive ex counter espionage experience with respect to Iran? [2:02:58] You don't know the answer to that question? I terminated anyone and everyone that weaponized [2:03:02] law enforcement. I, I see. So it was related, obviously, to the classified documents case. [2:03:09] So, uh, that's not what I said. Well, Director Patel, uh, Director Patel, [2:03:13] I understood you to say to, in response to Senator Murray, that, um, you've not redirected [2:03:19] FBI resources toward the immigration enforcement effort. That's not what I said. [2:03:25] Okay. Have you redirected resources away from your core FBI responsibilities toward the mass deportation [2:03:35] effort? Uh, no one at the FBI has been permanently reassigned on the immigration front. And when we [2:03:40] pull the numbers, the FBI's overall operational field expenditures surged periodically for immigration [2:03:47] enforcement activities, including the rest of 2000 people with direct ties to foreign terrorist [2:03:51] organizations was 2.4%. So, okay. So you're, the key word there, I guess, was permanently. You have not [2:03:58] permanently reassigned. Is that what you, you reassigned temporarily? Surges. Yes, sir. Okay. Um, [2:04:04] have you had a chance to listen to or read about Brian Driscoll's statements about what you said to him [2:04:12] and the reasons for his firing? No, I have not, sir. So let me, let me just say this, Mr. Director. Um, [2:04:22] in your response to me earlier, where you had a little bit of a blow up, you made a couple provably [2:04:29] false statements. So did you. No, I, Mr. Director, I was reading about and asking you and asking you [2:04:38] to respond to allegations that are made. In fact, I was giving you an opportunity to do that. [2:04:43] And you took that opportunity. But in the process, you made these provably false statements that I know [2:04:50] are sort of like urban legend in right-wing media about margaritas in El Salvador, which is provably [2:04:58] false. And so coming from the mouth of an FBI director to make provably false statements in a hearing like [2:05:07] this is extremely troubling. And it, it leads me to ask whether or not the other things you've been [2:05:15] saying are false statements. And so my, because that was, that's a provably false statement. You [2:05:22] made a couple of those that are provably false. And this is from the mouth of the FBI director. [2:05:26] The only one that made false statements is you. My final question to you, Mr. Director, [2:05:31] is do you know that it is a crime to lie to Congress? Do you know that? That's my last question. [2:05:36] I have not lied to Congress. I didn't ask you that. The one that lied to Congress is you. [2:05:40] Do you, I'm not testifying here, sir, and I don't lie. Maybe the next time you run up a $7,000 bar tab, [2:05:46] we can talk about it. Well, see, there you go. Line again. You suggested it. It's in the FBC [2:05:50] report. I'll post it right now. You suggested it was public. It wasn't public money, as you know. [2:05:54] That was for a 50-member staff bar. So it was a $7,000 bar tab. Mr. Patel, I'm glad. Let me just [2:06:01] say in closing, Mr. Chairman, two things. I'm glad that you have agreed to take the test regarding, [2:06:09] you know, whether you have alcohol problems. I'm glad you agreed with me to do that. [2:06:14] You still haven't answered my final question. Do you know, Mr. Director, that it is a crime to lie [2:06:20] to Congress? Do you know that? I do not lie to Congress. I didn't ask you that. [2:06:26] And you're insinuating that I am because you want to correct your time in this session where [2:06:33] you got steamrolled by the facts so you can have a Twitter narrative so you can go raise more money [2:06:39] and spend more money on $7,000 bar tab, and I'm not going to give it to you. The [2:06:43] director of the FBI apparently does not want to answer the question about whether or not it's a [2:06:48] crime to lie to Congress, and I find that extremely troubling. I find it troubling that you lie to the [2:06:53] American people every day. With law enforcement. You are a disgrace, [2:06:57] Mr. Director. Not nearly as big as you. The fact that you can't answer that question, [2:07:00] I will – I will – that concludes my question, Mr. Chairman, but I'm obviously very troubled. [2:07:07] A question for the director of ATF. Director Sakata, I want to talk just a minute about NIBIN. [2:07:18] I don't need to explain to you what NIBIN is, but it is a very useful tool in involving violent crimes [2:07:28] and illegal firearms. While I strongly support the Second Amendment and the right of law-abiding [2:07:35] citizens to own guns and carry guns, I also believe that the responsibility we have with law [2:07:41] enforcement is to make certain you have the tools to target violent criminals who use firearms to [2:07:46] terrorize communities. Your budget requests a program increase of $7.8 million to support NIBIN. [2:07:54] I wanted to give you the opportunity for me to hear the reason for that increase and how that tool [2:08:02] will be helpful to law enforcement officials in my home state of Kansas. [2:08:07] Good afternoon, Senator. Thank you again for your question and your support of ATF, [2:08:12] in particular with the crime gun intelligence services that we provide to our state and local [2:08:17] partners. NIBIN is one of the three legs to the stool of crime gun intelligence and probably one of [2:08:24] the most important. Our correlation review specialists are housed in two facilities, one in Huntsville, [2:08:31] Alabama and one in Wichita. They review approximately 3,000 images per day that are received from our state [2:08:40] local partners. Those images are fired cartridge casings that are recovered in crime scenes from [2:08:46] across the country and those experts which we call correlation review specialists have a capacity as [2:08:54] to how many images they can review over their eight-hour shift and be able to successfully match [2:09:01] to a crime scene out in the field. We currently run two shifts about 16 hours a day [2:09:08] in both of those facilities and we service approximately 12,000 police departments around [2:09:15] the country. We have a pending backlog of about 30 police departments that are waiting to be added to [2:09:23] NIBIN and many more that are seeking support in acquiring a brass tracks machine which is the actual [2:09:29] machine that takes the images of either the fired cartridge casing or a test fired casing and a firearm we [2:09:36] would recover from a crime scene. The capacity is pretty much capped right now and we have a number of [2:09:46] issues we're dealing with in 2027 about 226 brass tracks machines go end of life around the country for [2:09:53] our state and local partners. Those partners do not have a budget to replace those machines which would mean [2:10:00] that the critical services we provide and the way those departments are interdependent on one another [2:10:07] to share that intelligence because often shooters come to one city commit a shooting with their firearm [2:10:13] but live in another city and use those firearms in those other cities we actually develop quite often [2:10:20] the leads from the adjoining city so it's critical for us to have the money to keep on modernizing the system [2:10:26] and to be able to take on the additional capacity that our state and local partners require [2:10:32] ATF to be able to handle as we continue to tackle this problem of violent crime attributed to violent [2:10:38] felons around the country. And that's the purpose of the seven point something million dollars [2:10:43] a portion of it yes sir. Okay and it used to be let me let me understand about this do you provide [2:10:49] uh the necessary uh device for local law enforcement to make that uh finding that they then forward to [2:10:58] the Niven center? So that the device is called the brass tracks machine the brass tracks machine yes sir [2:11:04] and that provide that to local law enforcement we we uh in the past have purchased it for uh the local uh [2:11:10] police department at a cost of approximately three hundred thousand dollars per machine two hundred [2:11:15] thousand dollars for the machine plus uh about a hundred thousand dollars for five years of service. [2:11:20] And the the widespread use of that machine is hugely important to the success of the overall mission of [2:11:27] of of identifying and correlating. That's correct. If that if you don't have the ability to input the [2:11:33] information then the system is less valuable. That's correct it's it's uh if i was to compare it to [2:11:40] APHIS on the fingerprint side uh the more fingerprints you have in the in the system the more likely you will come back. [2:11:45] with the successful match. Uh director patel let me ask you about what should i be worrying about. [2:11:51] Kansas City is one of the host cities uh for the world cup a significant presence uh and uh we've had [2:11:58] uh with the with your help we've had a a hearing in this subcommittee along with the senator brit's [2:12:04] subcommittee on homeland security uh looking at the security issues for uh places across the country [2:12:10] associated with the world cup uh we weren't i wasn't able to ask you this question at the time but [2:12:16] just what what are your worries and what should i be worrying about in trying to help Kansas City and [2:12:21] other communities have the necessary safety and security for the people who attend. [2:12:25] For Kansas City for any host cities for any base camp cities it's the same message. [2:12:29] Our best partners are our state and local partners and are providing the training that we do for our [2:12:33] counter UAS program to our host cities and our base camp cities is critical to that. [2:12:38] But also deploying during the world cup events to all the major cities across the country including [2:12:43] our sabts or bomb technicians and our evidence response techs we are prepared and already put out [2:12:48] a program to surge to those cities ahead of time and during um the world cup staging events. [2:12:54] We've also completed or will complete 300,000 background checks for individuals coming associated [2:13:00] with the FIFA world cup. So we run them against our background holdings along with [2:13:04] the other federal law enforcement partners agencies and then we push that back out to the field. [2:13:08] But the best thing that the communities can do because the communities are the best partners for [2:13:12] the FBI is the communities and the state and locals online can help us monitor, can help send tips [2:13:19] to the FBI, can do it at NTOC, can do it at CJIS because of the AI capabilities that we've implemented there [2:13:25] and we're allowed to triage that data near live time and send it back to the community and the state and [2:13:30] local and say hey this individual's a threat or this individual's talking to someone that's a threat. [2:13:35] It's the biggest ask I have of the United States during the world cup or any major sporting event. [2:13:40] We had we had the Olympics in Milan, we had two F1 races, the Super Bowl and the club world cup last [2:13:45] summer and we had zero, zero major security incidents. We've learned from each and every one [2:13:51] of those with our international partners and our state and federal partners and we're well prepared for [2:13:56] the upcoming world cup across America which is going to have three million people come visit [2:14:00] both Canada and America and also Mexico but the state and locals focusing on online threats for me [2:14:08] and providing that information would be critical. And that's a capability of sharing that information [2:14:12] that they wouldn't have had in the absence of the attention that's being provided now due to the world cup. [2:14:19] Absolutely and also data on the sidelines as I said earlier is might as well not be collected so [2:14:25] that's why we took the AI tools for the first time ever and applied them against triaging that data [2:14:30] that comes in on the NTOC our tip lines and in our criminal justice information systems we're able to go [2:14:35] through all of that including foreign language and triage that and foreign social media posts and [2:14:42] triage that and we did so in North Carolina just to give you one example and prevented a school shooting [2:14:47] if we had just left at the human capital we would have missed it. Got it. Administrator Cole, [2:14:53] I've had the opportunity to see DEA air wings the aviation department in a couple of locations [2:14:58] across the country. I wanted to give you a moment to speak toward the current state of the DEA's [2:15:07] aviation fleet modernization or recapitalization needs the agency is facing. We've tried to pay [2:15:13] some attention toward recapitalizing the DEA and other law enforcement agencies air fleet but I can't [2:15:21] imagine that we're anyplace close to where it ought to be. No sir we aren't but thank you for your [2:15:27] continued support of DEA aviation. We recently sold one of our challenger jets and we're going to use [2:15:34] that those proceeds back to buy another king air. The king air is the workhorse of our agency not [2:15:40] only domestically but internationally. It's been our workhorse in Colombia and soon to be going back to [2:15:45] Mexico so it's much needed. We will continue to streamline our efforts continue to enforce the [2:15:52] importance of aviation especially with surveillance but it's a force protector for our men and women [2:15:58] that are on the ground every single day as well so thank you for your support. And how does the budget [2:16:04] request address that issue of recapitalization? The budget address will help with the purchase of the [2:16:09] new aircraft but it will also allow us to ensure that our aviation fleet is always modern, safe and very [2:16:17] efficient. Let me turn again to you though Administrator Cole. Southwest Kansas sits in a major [2:16:24] trafficking corridor face in my view unique challenges tied to narcotics trafficking. Specifically [2:16:32] the movement of fentanyl and this is the second time I haven't been able to say words. Methamphetamines. [2:16:40] Methamphetamines, thank you. Through rural communities that do not have the same local law enforcement resources [2:16:47] as large cities do. The DEA has been willing to establish a position in Garden City and I appreciate [2:16:56] that. Would you speak to what additional steps the DEA is taking to incentivize agents to locate in a place [2:17:04] like Garden City which to me is a very fine place but is rural and it's considered a small town by many [2:17:14] but one of the largest that I represent and tell me about what you need in regard to incentives for [2:17:21] relocation or otherwise. Well thank you for that and as a career special agent my first assignment was [2:17:26] McAllister, Oklahoma. Three agents for 30 counties so I know the importance of making sure that DEA is [2:17:33] present in those rural counties. I'm committed to staffing the Garden City office. I'm going to [2:17:38] personally pay attention to it and we're going to get you somebody there because it's the number [2:17:42] one priority. Our connectivity to our state local and tribal partners to number one address the [2:17:47] fentanyl epidemic that's ravaging through our states but also to increase the capacity when it comes to [2:17:53] sharing intelligence that allows the state and locals to do their jobs. Do you have incentive [2:17:59] capability to incent someone to locate in a particular location large or small? Yes sir we do. Director Patel, [2:18:08] I want to ask you to speak about the current threat environment in regard to religious and specifically [2:18:17] Jewish communities in the United States, the status of the October 7th task force and what steps the FBI [2:18:25] is taking to coordinate with local law enforcement in regard to religious institutions? So we have [2:18:32] focused heavily on those religious motivated acts of violence and the October 7th task force actually [2:18:40] I'm glad you bring it up was the first model on the counterterrorism front that we utilized AI on [2:18:46] our collection and it gave us numerous leads including the ability to stop and thwart attacks. We stopped [2:18:53] four attacks during the holidays in just December alone. Unfortunately the reality that the Jewish [2:18:59] population faces is that 60 percent of the FBI's cases that are based in hatred or ideology are targeted [2:19:05] against the Jewish community and so what we're doing to counterman that front is a couple of things. One, [2:19:11] get out as much information as we can to the American public to show that these investigations [2:19:17] lead directly to ties based in ideology, excuse me, in anti-Semitic values and we're trying to educate [2:19:25] the American public in the world that this is a very real threat here. Targeted behind the Jewish [2:19:29] community are of course a good amount of Catholic and Christian hate-based ideology and crimes and so [2:19:37] what we've done across the enterprise is we've shifted the resources from DC, put them out into the field to [2:19:43] specifically go out into the field and dismantle not just the networks on the ground but also reverse [2:19:49] engineer who these people know, who paid them, how they got there, where online they are communicating [2:19:56] because that's the biggest sort of incubator for this hatred and ideology and what we're trying to do [2:20:02] with our SACs in the field is have engagements like we did with the synagogue in Michigan and elsewhere [2:20:08] ahead of time and train the local communities based on the fact-based investigations we're conducting [2:20:13] across the country so they can prevent like they did in Michigan a mass attack. [2:20:17] Senator Peters' question and your response in particular caught my attention which suggested [2:20:23] that there was knowledge and information in advance and so there was capabilities of [2:20:27] prevention or reduction in the outcome, the nature of the outcome and is that unusual? [2:20:34] Senator Peters, are you able to see through your work that something is about to happen [2:20:41] as compared to respond to something that did happen? [2:20:43] Senator Peters, that's correct sir and it's also just proactive because of the investigations we've [2:20:48] undertaken and hate-based ideology we're able to go out ahead of time to synagogues like in Michigan [2:20:53] so we didn't have a direct threat reporting related to that individual conducting that threat but we knew [2:20:58] other individuals and synagogues in the area would be targeted so we went there and instructed them how to [2:21:03] secure the facility should they undergo an attack and the individuals that worked there immediately [2:21:09] called the FBI and they said our training pursuant to you, the bureau, led to us being able to save [2:21:16] lives on that day and we're doing that around the country. [2:21:17] It's a really rewarding circumstance. [2:21:19] It was the FBI. [2:21:20] It's pleasing to me. [2:21:22] Director Seralta, U.S. Marshals have had success in regional fugitive task force models across the country. [2:21:32] There's been conversations in the past about expanding or strengthening that regional task force [2:21:38] capabilities in the Midwest, the Midwest part of the country. Is there a possibility of bringing [2:21:43] an expanded regional fugitive task force presence to the Midwest? Is that still part of conversations [2:21:48] at the U.S. Marshals Service? [2:21:51] Thank you for your question, Senator. So the president's budget request expands the regional [2:21:59] fugitive task forces and the district task forces with operational administrative personnel dedicated to [2:22:07] the fugitive apprehension missions. Also includes expansion of our tactical canine to provide each [2:22:17] RFTF with a full-time canine support. It's really important. For that we were provided with $43 million. [2:22:26] However, the program increases is for 107 positions. Our goal is to cover the country from coast to coast [2:22:38] with RFTFs. However, that does require permanent appropriated funding for that purpose. So short answer [2:22:49] is yes, sir. There is thought. That was my second question. Do you have the resources to implement that [2:22:55] thought? And your answer is not necessarily? Not necessarily, sir. I understand. Director Patel, [2:23:04] let me, I was an advocate of your idea a year ago of putting agents in the field. And we heard today [2:23:10] a number of instances in which that's made a difference. And I assume that is a success and is [2:23:16] the intention for the FBI to continue in that fashion. Yes, sir. We're going to continue that way. [2:23:22] The hiring capabilities, do you all have positions that are empty, are vacant and need to be filled? [2:23:32] Is that true across the board? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And the reason those positions are open is, [2:23:40] what, is there a common denominator among the agencies? Someone could say what their problem is [2:23:46] and I'll see if everybody agrees. I can speak for ATF. I think, sir, that for our purposes, we were under [2:23:51] hiring freeze in 2025, so we weren't able to start up our hiring machine. We received authorization, [2:23:57] late in 2025 to begin to backfill some of those vacancies. And in addition to that authorization, [2:24:04] we've received significant support through some supplemental funding through the HSTF and OB3 [2:24:12] to try to backfill agent positions. We are in that process right now. But as I stated, [2:24:18] taking a machine from full stop and bringing it into operation takes some time. So we're in that stage [2:24:24] right now where the machine is moving forward and we anticipate being able to backfill those positions [2:24:29] with the support that we've received. Anybody need to add anything to director Cicadas? [2:24:35] Senator, I'd like to add to that that for the Marshall service, our HR department actually has a very [2:24:42] archaic software program for human resource management. So we're upgrading that system [2:24:50] as we speak, thanks to the help from DOJ and OMB. And I believe we're going to be able to get over that [2:24:58] hurdle. Okay. And director Patel talked about the training of local law enforcement, the FBI academy [2:25:04] and its value and the demand for those services. I know the FBI has their own training facility. [2:25:13] We ought to figure out how we can train more local law enforcement officials. I've seen and had [2:25:19] conversations with local law enforcement officers as well as their superiors who are so pleased by the [2:25:26] training they've received. And it's a professional change in their lives having had that experience. [2:25:32] Is once you find someone to fill a position, is training an issue to get them on board and at work? [2:25:40] I think there's two pieces to that. The national academy to train our state and locals, [2:25:44] for whatever reason, they had capped it before I got there. And everybody across the country wanted [2:25:48] more slots. So I'm putting 200 more police officers through our national academy here, [2:25:52] 50 more per class. That problem you're apparently solving? [2:25:56] Yeah, that one we've solved. On the BFTC side of the house for the special agents, [2:26:01] what our lag was, was there was essentially 100 days, once you submit a piece of paper, your application, [2:26:08] to say, I would like to come do this, and for them to just receive an interview. So we eliminated the lag [2:26:14] time. So we took off almost four months of lag time. And because of that, our BFT classes have [2:26:19] started going up. And so our recruiting has also been heavily invested in to recruit around the [2:26:25] country. And so we're filling the billets. And as soon as you graduate BFTC, you go immediately to [2:26:31] your field office assignment. There's no, like, literally the day after graduation, you report for [2:26:35] duty. Let me ask the other agencies. So if you're successful in recruiting, do you have the capacity [2:26:40] then to train and put that new agent in the field at work? Senator, from DEA perspective, [2:26:47] since we're back to global enforcement, we have no shortage of applicants. And we have space. We have [2:26:51] our own academy next to the FBI academy at Quantico. So we've been running significant classes through the [2:26:57] academy. Okay. Yes, sir. U.S. Marshals and ATF? From the Marshall service perspective, [2:27:03] we use FLETSI. They have accommodated an increase in classes to date. And we have a great working [2:27:11] relationship. But would explore other methods if they're available. And the same for us, sir. We [2:27:18] also have our agents go through FLETSI. And FLETSI has accommodated us by providing double the number [2:27:24] of classes that we are normally slated for for 27. Thank you. Only other comment I'd make, [2:27:32] and then we'll close the hearing, is the Homeland Security Task Forces that we were accustomed to [2:27:39] OCDEF prior to that. Now we have HSTFs. We're working. And if there's ways that we can be of help, [2:27:48] maybe that's the way for me to say it. Homeland Security needs to make reimbursements to the [2:27:54] various agencies. And so we're working to make sure that that happens in a timely fashion. I would [2:28:00] guess DHS, because of a number of reasons, is administrative challenges in the last few months, [2:28:06] maybe is slow in accomplishing that. But we recognize the money that needs to be transferred [2:28:12] to get to the agencies to participate in the joint efforts. That makes sense. Am I missing something? [2:28:17] Okay. Yes, sir. [2:28:19] I'm not going to ask that question this time. If there's no further questions, [2:28:28] senators may submit additional records for the subcommittee's official hearing record. [2:28:31] We request the director and administrator's response within 30 days. Subcommittee stands [2:28:36] in recess. Subcommittee call the chair. And we take you live to Capitol Hill, [2:28:51] where Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner is testifying on his department's 2027 [2:28:57] budget request. Sir, CDBG has not accomplished the mission that it's supposed to accomplish. [2:29:08] There are some states that have used CDBG for its intended purpose, but at large, CDBG has not been used [2:29:16] overall for what it's intended to be used for, as I made record of and notice of in my statement. [2:29:21] Well, I'm asking you again, who makes decisions on how CDBG money is spent? [2:29:32] Yes, sir. It is the states, but the money is coming from the federal government. [2:29:35] So if it's not used properly, then the states are not using it properly. [2:29:39] Well, I'll be concerned. [2:29:48] Thank you for listening. [2:29:50] I'll just repeat the questions. [2:29:53] If there's a question I'll get. [2:29:56] I'll just repeat the questions. [2:29:57] I'll just have a question. [2:29:58] I'll be telling you. [2:29:59] I'll get back to the rules. [2:30:00] I'll do it. [2:30:01] So if there's a question, we'll let the rules and the rules and the rules and rules and rules and rules,