'Downright incompetent': FBI chief blasted for 'no timeline and no clue'

Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered a one-two punch to FBI Director Kash Patel, who appeared at a budget hearing without bringing a budget.

“It was due last week, by law,” Senator Murray explained during Thursday’s hearing.

“I understand,” Director Patel replied.

“And your answer is I should just understand you’re not gonna follow the law?” Murray asked.

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“My answer is that I am following the law, and I’m working with my interagency partners to do this and get you the budget that you are required to have,” Patel responded.

“And you have no timeline?” Murray asked.

“No,” Patel replied.

“Hmm,” said Murray. “Well, we also need a full budget request, not a single paragraph full of wild talking points that we saw with the skinny budget proposal. We’re now having a budget hearing, without a budget request. So, Director Patel, where is the FY2026 budget request for the FBI?”

“It’s, uh, being worked on, ma’am,” was Patel’s response.

“Have you reviewed it? Have you approved it?” Murray asked.

The back and forth continued, with Patel ultimately declaring, “I’m doing the best I can. I can’t make up answers, I’m gonna commit to you to work on getting you the information you need.”

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“Well, that, that is insufficient and deeply disturbing,” Murray responded.

But the six-term Democratic Senator did not stop there.

Taking to social media, Murray blasted Patel again.

“Kash Patel, the conspiracy theorist that Republicans made FBI Director, came to a Senate hearing on the budget—with NO budget, NO timeline, and NO clue,” Senator Murray wrote atop video of her exchange with the FBI Director. “It’s downright incompetent, and it’s making America less safe. We need serious leadership at the FBI.”

Watch the video below or at this link.