FBI Breaks Record One Month After Kash Patel Takes Bureau’s Helm As Director
Under FBI Director Kash Patel’s leadership in his first full month, the bureau has seen an unprecedented surge in applications for new agents. Interest in law enforcement careers has skyrocketed, more than doubling the monthly average seen since 2016.
According to Fox News Digital, the FBI received 5,577 new agent applications in March. The only time the monthly number was comparable was in April 2016, when 5,283 applications were submitted.
FBI data reviewed by Fox News Digital reveals that in 2023, the monthly average for applications stood at 2,797, while in 2024, that number climbed to 3,383.
“Director Patel and Deputy Director (Dan) Bongino have put a major emphasis on restoring confidence in federal law enforcement and boosting new agent recruiting. These record early returns certainly suggest the new FBI is heading in the right direction,” said FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson in a statement to Fox News on Wednesday.
Since January, the FBI has received over 10,000 applications from aspiring agents, according to bureau records.
In January, during the first month of the Trump administration and the period of Patel’s nomination and confirmation hearing, the FBI received 4,143 applications—marking the highest number since August 2020 for a single month.
“The record number of FBI job applications in March shows that people are inspired by Kash Patel’s commitment to restoring integrity and effectiveness at the bureau,” Patel advisor Erica Knight told Fox News Digital. “Americans are putting their trust in his leadership to rebuild the FBI and keep our communities safe.”
“Kash is dedicated to creating a stronger, more trusted FBI that serves the American people the way it was always meant to,” Knight added.
During his Senate confirmation hearing in late January, Patel highlighted the “erosion of trust” in the bureau, citing polling data showing that “only 40% of Americans hold a favorable view of the FBI.”
“This must change,” Patel stated. “Public cooperation is vital for the bureau to solve crimes, and its declining reputation is already affecting recruitment efforts.”
To address this, Patel and Bongino have prioritized recruiting new agents and boosting morale within law enforcement, advocating for “letting good cops be cops.” Their efforts have led to the surge in applications.
In March, Patel released an FBI recruitment video featuring footage of him collaborating with agents in the field and showcasing the hostage rescue team facility. The video encourages viewers to consider joining the bureau.
It concludes with the FBI seal and the words, “A renewed mission. A stronger future.”
The final message in the video urges potential applicants to “Apply today at FBIJobs.gov.”
Patel and Bongino have also stressed, in private discussions with staff, the importance of strengthening partnerships with local law enforcement agencies.
Last week, the FBI announced the capture of a key MS-13 leader on the East Coast of the United States.
The 24-year-old suspect was apprehended in Woodbridge, Virginia, a location just south of Washington, D.C. While the suspect’s identity has not yet been disclosed, authorities confirm he is among the top three leaders of MS-13 in the U.S.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, along with Director Patel, observed the arrest from a nearby tactical operations center. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and senior DOJ official Emil Bove were also present.
“Early this morning, one of the top leaders of MS-13 was apprehended. He was the leader for the East Coast, one of the top three in the entire country, right here in Virginia… He is an illegal alien from El Salvador — and he will not be living in our country much longer,” Bondi stated.
“They executed a clean, safe operation, and the bad guy is in custody. And thanks to the FBI, we got one of the worst of the worst of MS-13 off the streets this morning. Virginia and the country are a lot safer today,” she continued.
“From the second Donald Trump took office, he said he is going to make America safe. He shut down our borders and now it’s our job to get these people out of our country… We will not have another Laken Riley,” Bondi added.
“Arrests have increased 468% from the same period last year. We didn’t need new laws, as President Trump always says — we needed a new president,” she remarked. “America is safer today because one of the top domestic terrorists in MS-13 is off the streets. This has been an ongoing directive of President Trump. His directive to me when I became Attorney General of the United States was very simple: Keep America safe.”
Patel emphasized, “This task force is going to go everywhere as needed, across the United States to bring the form of justice and measured security and safety that our American citizens deserve… If you are going to continue to commit acts of violent crime, you will meet the same fate that this individual did this morning.”
“This is what happens when you let good cops be cops and we’re going to continue to let good cops be cops across this country… We are returning our communities to safety,” Patel stated.