Topzle Topzle

Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Updated: Wikipedia source

Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a United States federal law enforcement agency, and is responsible for its day-to-day operations. The FBI director is appointed for a single 10-year term by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The FBI is an agency within the Department of Justice (DOJ), and thus the director reports to the attorney general of the United States. The director briefed the president on any issues that arose from within the FBI until the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 was enacted following the September 11 attacks. Since then, the director reports in an additional capacity to the director of national intelligence, as the FBI is also part of the United States Intelligence Community. The incumbent FBI director is Kash Patel, who was sworn in on February 21, 2025.

Infobox

Reports to
mw- Attorney GeneralDirector of National Intelligence
Seat
J. Edgar Hoover Building, Washington, D.C.
Appointer
The presidentwith Senate advice and consent
Term length
At the pleasure of the president. (10 years by statute), renewable (only by the Senate)
Formation
July 26, 1908
First holder
Stanley Finch
Deputy
Deputy Director
Website
www.fbi.gov

Tables

· Nominations
Image
Name
Announced
Nominated by
Hearing date(s)
Committee vote result
Committee vote date
Cloture vote result
Cloture vote date
Floor vote result
Floor vote date
Further Details
William S. Sessions
Jul 24, 1987
Ronald Reagan
Sep 9, 1987
Reported Favorably
Sep 15, 1987
N/A
N/A
90–0
Sep 25, 1987
Congress.gov Page
Louis Freeh
Jul 20, 1993
Bill Clinton
Jul 29, 1993
Reported Favorably
Aug 3, 1993
N/A
N/A
Confirmed by voice vote
Aug 6, 1993
Congress.gov Page
Robert Mueller
Jul 5, 2001
George W. Bush
Jul 30, 2001 –Jul 31, 2001
Reported Favorably
Aug 2, 2001
N/A
N/A
98–0
Aug 2, 2001
Congress.gov Page
James Comey
Jun 21, 2013
Barack Obama
Jul 9, 2013
Reported Favorably
Jul 18, 2013
Withdrawn by unanimous consent
Jul 29, 2013
93–1
Jul 29, 2013
Congress.gov Page
Christopher A. Wray
Jun 7, 2017
Donald Trump
Jul 12, 2017
20–0
Jul 20, 2017
N/A
N/A
92–5
Aug 1, 2017
Congress.gov Page
Kash Patel
Nov 30, 2024
Donald Trump
Jan 30, 2025
12–10
Feb 13, 2025
51–47
Feb 20, 2025
51–49
Feb 20, 2025
Congress.gov Page
· Lists of officeholders › Bureau of Investigation chiefs and directors (1908–1935)
No.
Image
Name
Start
End
Duration
Refs.
President(s)
1
Stanley Finch
July 26, 1908
April 30, 1912
3 years, 279 days
Theodore Roosevelt(1901–1909)
William Howard Taft(1909–1913)
2
A. Bruce Bielaski
April 30, 1912
February 10, 1919
6 years, 286 days
Woodrow Wilson(1913–1921)
–
William E. AllenActing
February 10, 1919
June 30, 1919
140 days
3
William J. Flynn
July 1, 1919
August 21, 1921
2 years, 51 days
Warren G. Harding(1921–1923)
4
William J. Burns
August 22, 1921
May 10, 1924
2 years, 262 days
Calvin Coolidge(1923–1929)
5
J. Edgar Hoover
May 10, 1924
June 30, 1935
11 years, 51 days
Herbert Hoover(1929–1933)
Franklin D. Roosevelt(1933–1945)
· Lists of officeholders › Federal Bureau of Investigation directors (1935–present)
No.
Image
Name
Start
End
Duration
Refs.
President(s)
1
J. Edgar Hoover
July 1, 1935
May 2, 1972
36 years, 306 days
Franklin D. Roosevelt(1933–1945)
Harry S. Truman(1945–1953)
Dwight D. Eisenhower(1953–1961)
John F. Kennedy(1961–1963)
Lyndon B. Johnson(1963–1969)
Richard Nixon(1969–1974)
–
Clyde TolsonActing
May 2, 1972
May 3, 1972
1 day
–
L. Patrick GrayActing
May 3, 1972
April 27, 1973
359 days
–
Bill RuckelshausActing
April 30, 1973
July 9, 1973
70 days
2
Clarence M. Kelley
July 9, 1973
February 15, 1978
4 years, 221 days
Gerald Ford(1974–1977)
Jimmy Carter(1977–1981)
–
James B. AdamsActing
February 15, 1978
February 23, 1978
8 days
3
Bill Webster
February 23, 1978
May 25, 1987
9 years, 91 days
Ronald Reagan(1981–1989)
–
John E. OttoActing
May 25, 1987
November 2, 1987
160 days
4
William S. Sessions
November 2, 1987
July 19, 1993
5 years, 259 days
George H. W. Bush(1989–1993)
Bill Clinton(1993–2001)
–
Floyd I. ClarkeActing
July 19, 1993
September 1, 1993
44 days
5
Louis Freeh
September 1, 1993
June 25, 2001
7 years, 297 days
George W. Bush(2001–2009)
–
Thomas J. PickardActing
June 25, 2001
September 4, 2001
71 days
6
Robert Mueller
September 4, 2001
September 4, 2013
12 years, 0 days
Barack Obama(2009–2017)
7
James Comey
September 4, 2013
May 9, 2017
3 years, 247 days
Donald Trump(2017–2021)
–
Andrew McCabeActing
May 9, 2017
August 2, 2017
85 days
8
Christopher A. Wray
August 2, 2017
January 19, 2025
7 years, 171 days
Joe Biden(2021–2025)
–
Paul AbbateActing
January 19, 2025
January 20, 2025
1 day
–
Brian DriscollActing
January 20, 2025
February 21, 2025
32 days
Donald Trump(2025–present)
9
Kash Patel
February 21, 2025
Incumbent
293 days

References

  1. A procedural vote to move Patel's nomination forward passed 48–45 on February 18, 2025.
  2. "Directors, Then and Now"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors
  3. "28 U.S. Code § 532 - Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation"
    https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/532
  4. "FBI Director: Appointment and Tenure"
    https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41850.pdf
  5. "Organization, Mission & Functions Manual: Attorney General, Deputy and Associate"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170131085617/https://www.justice.gov/jmd/organization-mission-and-functions-manual-attorney-general#ag
  6. "FBI Intelligence Reform Since September 11, 2001: Issues and Options for Congress"
    https://fas.org/irp/crs/RL32336.html#n_30_
  7. FBI Director Nominations, 1973-2017
    https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44842.pdf
  8. Newsweek
    http://www.newsweek.com/can-president-fire-fbi-director-trump-comey-594716
  9. Chesney, Robert
    https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/backgrounder-power-appoint-remove-fbi-director
  10. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/james-comey-fired-fbi.html
  11. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/us/28brfs-SENATEEXTEND_BRF.html
  12. The Wall Street Journal
    https://www.wsj.com/articles/top-officials-being-interviewed-for-interim-fbi-director-after-james-comeys-ouster-1494433033
  13. MSN
    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/interim-fbi-director-likely-to-be-named-as-soon-as-wednesday/ar-BBAYQ9O
  14. "The FBI Director: Background on the Position"
    https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/directors/the-position-of-fbi-director
  15. "Previous Directors"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors
  16. "Stanley W. Finch, July 26, 1908 - April 30, 1912"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/stanley-w-finch
  17. "Alexander B. Bielaski, April 30, 1912 - February 10, 1919"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/alexander-b-bielaski
  18. "William E. Allen (Acting), February 10, 1919 - June 30, 1919"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/william-e-allen
  19. "William J. Flynn, July 1, 1919 - August 21, 1921"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/william-j-flynn
  20. "William J. Burns, August 22, 1921 - June 14, 1924"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/william-j-burns
  21. "J. Edgar Hoover, May 10, 1924 - May 2, 1972"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/j-edgar-hoover
  22. "Timeline of FBI History"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150316145041/http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/intelligence/timeline/
  23. Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1999/07/25/judge-frank-m-johnson-jr-dies/db3794fd-6ffa-4d1f-9ed2-2de2e813eeaf/
  24. "L. Patrick Gray (Acting), May 3, 1972 - April 27, 1973"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/l-patrick-gray
  25. "William D. Ruckelshaus (Acting), April 30, 1973 - July 9, 1973"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/william-d-ruckelshaus-acting
  26. "Clarence M. Kelley, July 9, 1973 - February 15, 1978"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/clarence-m-kelley
  27. "James B. Adams (Acting), February 15, 1978 – February 23, 1978"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/james-b-adams
  28. "William H. Webster, February 23, 1978 - May 25, 1987"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/william-h-webster
  29. "John E. Otto (Acting), May 26, 1987 - November 2, 1987"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/john-e-otto-acting
  30. "William S. Sessions, November 2, 1987 - July 19, 1993"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/william-s-sessions
  31. "Floyd I. Clarke (Acting), July 19, 1993 - September 1, 1993"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/floyd-i-clarke
  32. "Louis J. Freeh, September 1, 1993 - June 25, 2001"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/louis-j-freeh
  33. "Thomas J. Pickard (Acting), June 25, 2001 - September 4, 2001"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/thomas-j-pickard
  34. "Robert S. Mueller, III, September 4, 2001- September 4, 2013"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/robert-s-mueller-iii
  35. "James B. Comey, September 4, 2013 - May 9, 2017"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/james-b-comey
  36. "Andrew McCabe (Acting Director), May 9, 2017 - August 2, 2017"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/andrew-mccabe
  37. "Christopher Wray, August 2, 2017 - January 20, 2025"
    https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/christopher-wray
  38. "New FBI Director"
    https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/christopher-wray-sworn-in-as-fbi-director
  39. BBC
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce902z8lp81o
  40. NPR
    https://www.klcc.org/2025-01-20/the-deputy-fbi-director-is-retiring-today
  41. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/us/politics/paul-abbate-fbi-director.html
  42. "New FBI Director Kash Patel Takes Oath of Office"
    https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/new-fbi-director-takes-oath-of-office
  43. Federal Register
    https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2007/02/14/07-714/designation-of-officers-of-the-federal-bureau-of-investigation
  44. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/19/us/fbi-chief-plans-to-fight-for-job.html
  45. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/22/opinion/time-s-up-for-william-sessions.html
  46. National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org
    https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/how-independent-is-the-fbis-director
  47. Johnston, David (July 20, 1993) "Defiant FBI chief removed from job by the President", The New York Times.
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/20/us/defiant-fbi-chief-removed-from-job-by-the-president.html
  48. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/james-comey-fired-fbi.html
  49. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/09/james-comey-fbi-fired-donald-trump
  50. The Hill
    https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/332651-sessions-was-told-to-find-reasons-to-fire-comey-reports/
  51. CNBC
    https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/09/justice-department-was-told-to-come-up-with-reasons-to-fire-comey-reports-say.html
  52. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/us/politics/comey-russia-investigation-fbi.html
  53. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/05/09/comey-firing-reaction-from-members-of-congress-on-fbi-directors-dismissal/
  54. "CNN's Jeffrey Toobin Goes Off on Trump for Firing Comey: 'What Kind of Country Is This?'"
    http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/05/09/white-house-fires-fbi-director-james-comey.html
  55. "Everyone is comparing Donald Trump to Richard Nixon"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170730011516/http://thesilicontimes.com/everyone-is-comparing-donald-trump-to-richard-nixon/
  56. "FBI Director James Comey fired by President Trump"
    http://fox59.com/2017/05/09/fbi-director-james-comey-fired-by-president-trump/
  57. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/us/politics/how-trump-decided-to-fire-james-comey.html
  58. Politico
    https://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/10/comey-firing-trump-loyalty-238239
  59. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-trumps-anger-and-impatience-prompted-him-to-fire-the-fbi-director/2017/05/10/d9642334-359c-11e7-b373-418f6849a004_story.html
  60. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/05/09/us/politics/ap-us-trump-comey-the-latest.html
  61. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-comey-los-angeles-20170509-story.html
  62. Fox News
    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-fires-comey-mccabe-takes-over-as-fbis-acting-director
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.