The Director of the Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) requested more than $10 billion for the 2026 fiscal budget during his statement before the House of Representative Wednesday.
Testifying to the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies in Washington, D.C., Kash Patel said that keeping Americans safe amid terrorism, drug trafficking, gang activity and cyber threats is “a no-fail mission.”
Why It Matters
While the number may seem high, the proposed 2026 budget is down nearly a billion from 2025. Last year saw a slight decrease in requested budget from the FBI, but the previous years have seen an increase, with the total number jumping from $7.9 billion in 2010 to $11.3 in 2025, according to data reviewed by Newsweek.
The request comes amid budget cuts carved out of federal departments by Billionaire Elon Musk‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Patel said that executive orders signed by President Donald Trump in January have increased the need for staffing to complete all the work associated with those orders involving homeland and national security.
What To Know
The FBI has been integral in carrying out immigration-related arrests, making over 6,000 of them since the inauguration, Patel explained.
Of those 6,000, 310 were Tren de Aragua gang members and 136 were members of the gang MS-13, according to Patel. One of those arrests included Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, an alleged leader of the gang MS-13 and member of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Patel said the FBI has also been working against cyber-attacks from Russia and North Korea in addition to dealing with the situation in Israel.
“The dedicated men and women in those positions are tackling a myriad threats head on, from a surge in terrorism threats in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel; to a scourge of fentanyl killing Americans from coast to coast; to an explosion of violent crime plaguing our communities,” Patel explained.
Other threats include terrorists not only from overseas but also from within the country. There have been seven people arrested in relation to Tesla dealership damage and vandalism, Patel said during the statement.
“In recent weeks, there have been numerous instances of vandalism, arson, and targeted shootings against Tesla vehicles, dealerships, and charging stations across the country,” he said, adding, “These acts of domestic terrorism will not be tolerated, and we will continue to hold these individuals accountable for their actions.
The mention of Tesla is particularly of note as Musk, who owns the company, has been active in cutting budgets for federal departments despite backlash from those who say he is not an elected official, nor an American citizen.
Patel said the budget would include pay for more than 35,000 FBI workers who work across the 55-field offices throughout the U.S.
Those offices, in conjunction with other agencies, have worked on task forces to find and deport approximately 3,000 foreign-born criminals living in the U.S. who either violated laws, have criminal histories, or have already been deported and returned to the country illegally, Patel explained.
He said that one of those task forces produced 370 arrests of illegal aliens, including people wanted for murder, in one operation in Massachusetts alone. Another operation saw $509 million of cocaine related to cartels in Florida seized.
What They’re Saying
Kash Patel, Director of the Federal Bureau Investigation, said in his statement: “The threats we face as a nation have never been greater or more diverse, and the expectations placed on the FBI have never been higher. With the requested resources, the FBI will have the talent, tools, and authorities to do more to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution.”
What Happens Next
The budget must be approved by the House and Senate before landing on the President’s desk for a final approval.