Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI, appears to be on a path to confirmation despite facing strong opposition from Democrats during his confirmation hearing.

Patel has been a vocal critic of the agency, pledging to address corruption within government services.

His nomination is viewed as part of Trump’s strategy to reform the bureau. He has promised to reduce the FBI’s presence in Washington, redistribute agents across the country and focus on tackling violent crime. “We let good cops be cops,” Patel said during his confirmation hearing last week.

He also says improving the public’s view of the bureau has to start with increased transparency.

Democrats have expressed concerns that Patel might use the FBI to target political adversaries, a charge Republicans leveled against the bureau under President Joe Biden. Patel, however, assured “there will be no politicization at the FBI.”

The judiciary committee is expected to advance Patel’s nomination to the full Senate for a confirmation vote, though the timing of the votes remains uncertain.

Jody Weis, a retired special agent and former deputy assistant director of the FBI, said Patel will still face several challenges if confirmed.

“He’s got to have people that he can trust that have no hidden agenda and that just want to go in and make the organization great again,” Weis said. “He’s got to bring a team to change the culture, culture is driven by leadership … I think he is the right person. He is a disrupter.”

Reports emerged over the weekend that many top FBI officials were instructed to resign, retire or face termination in the coming days.

Cesar Paz, a retired special agent and 21-year FBI veteran, said a shake-up by Patel is what the FBI needs.

“I think that the end result will be a better FBI, a cleaner FBI as far as personnel goes and a better service to the nation,” Paz said.

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