Kash Patel was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday afternoon to serve as Director of the FBI.

The Senate narrowly confirmed Patel along party-lines with a vote of 51-49; only two Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — joined Democrats in voting to oppose Patel.

Collins explained her decision to vote against Patel’s confirmation, saying there is a need for an FBI director who is “decidedly apolitical” and Patel’s “time over the past four years has been characterized by high profile and aggressive political activity… [his] past statements and actions “cast doubt on Mr. Patel’s ability to advance the FBI’s law enforcement mission in a way that is free from the appearance of political motivation.”

Murkowski shared a statement saying her opposition to Patel “stem[med] from his own prior political activities and how they may influence his leadership,”adding that the FBI “must be trusted as the federal agency that roots out crime and corruption, not focused on settling political scores. Murkowski said she was “disappointed that when [Patel] had the opportunity to push back on the administration’s decision to force the FBI to provide a list of agents involved in the January 6 investigations and prosecutions, he failed to do so.”

FBI directors are appointed to 10-year terms but can be removed by the president. Chris Wray, whom the president appointed in 2017, resigned at the end of the Biden administration after Pres. Trump said he would be firing him upon taking office.

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