During a Senate hearing for the FBI's FY2026 budget, Director Kash Patel revealed that he had no budget request prepared, violating a legal requirement. This shocking disclosure arose during questioning from Senator Patty Murray of Washington, who expressed alarm over the lack of preparation. Patel assured her he was collaborating with other agencies, but his inability to provide a timeline or a complete budget raised serious concerns among congressional leaders on the FBI's readiness and transparency regarding its financial planning.
MURRAY: And you have no timeline. Well, we also need a full budget request, not a single paragraph full of wild talking points... We're now having a budget hearing without a budget request.
PATEL: It's being worked on, ma'am. MURRAY: Have you reviewed it? Have you approved it? PATEL: But not yet.
MURRAY: How do we, as Congress, do our budget and our work without that request and without the spent one? PATEL: Well, ma'am, I'm here.
MURRAY: That is insufficient and deeply disturbing.
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