‘The work that the men and women of the FBI are doing to combat violent crime, terrorism, and other threats has never been more important’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a member of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee on Appropriations, participated in a hearing for the Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Budget Request for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with FBI Director Kash Patel.
Senator Britt began her line of questioning by thanking Director Patel for visiting FBI Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville last month, saying, “The work that the men and women of the FBI are doing to combat violent crime, terrorism, and other threats has never been more important. I am proud to work with you and proud to see the work you’re already doing to reduce the FBI footprint in D.C. and streamline the FBI’s operation and [reallocate] personnel to FBI Redstone.”
Last month, Senator Britt hosted FBI Director Patel in Huntsville at FBI Redstone along with Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.). They toured the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC), the Ballistic Research Facility (BRF), and The Improvised Explosive Detection and Synthesis Center (TIEDS). They also received a demonstration on the FBI’s Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS). Following the visit, Senator Britt praised Director Patel: “His visit reaffirms his support for Redstone Arsenal’s invaluable role in American national security. I’m grateful he was able to meet some of the Alabamians who put in the work, day-in and day-out, to protect our homeland.”
Senator Britt continued her questioning by highlighting FBI Redstone’s capabilities, as well as Director Patel’s efforts to immediately fill seats, and asked for Director Patel’s continued support at FBI Redstone, saying, “As you know, Redstone Arsenal is the epicenter of the FBI’s technological capabilities and advanced training. Fully leveraging Redstone Arsenal’s cutting edge capability sends a message to our enemies that the FBI and its leadership is back to prioritizing the pressing threats to our homeland. I am grateful that you not only made filling seats at Redstone an immediate priority, one of the first acts that you did as FBI director . . . can I have your commitment to ensuring strategic investment in Redstone will continue, and what do you need to make that happen?”
Director Patel responded, saying, “Redstone is one of the jewels that the FBI has . . . It’s our commitment to make sure the interagency, along with America, sees what we’re doing and gets trained there because the facilities you cited don’t exist for the interagency anywhere else . . . we need to continue the plans that you and your predecessors have laid out through the appropriations process, to complete the buildings on the South campus and to allow for more individuals to be there on a temporary and permanent basis . . .”
Senator Britt additionally emphasized her continued advocacy for FBI Redstone, asking Director Patel what he needs from Congress to support the FBI’s mission: “It’s important that the FBI be in a position, though, to continue to build out its capability at Redstone Arsenal. And as a Senator from Alabama, I am obviously committed to making that happen . . . will you commit to working with me on all of the construction projects that are planned at FBI Redstone and that they’re sustained and completed? . . . And is there anything additional you need from Congress to ensure that the FBI’s operational goals are met long term? We would like to be your partner.”
Director Patel affirmed his commitment, responding, “You absolutely have my commitment and the commitment of the Bureau. We are just going to need to continue to work together to make sure, one, people see what we’re doing at Redstone, and two, the interagency requests that are now coming in from our partners at CIA, at DHS, at CBP, to come there and train, and to also recognize the importance of facilities like the Bomb Technical Center, where every SABT (special agent bomb technician) in the country . . . is trained. It doesn’t happen anywhere else. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel that’s already there. We just need to finish it. And you have my commitment to finish it.”
Senator Britt concluded her line of questioning by asking Director Patel, who was confirmed to his position in February of this year, about his first few months as FBI Director: “It’s been unbelievably awe-inspiring. When you go to places like Redstone or when I go to any field offices across the country, all they want to do is the work that they signed up to do. They want to do the mission. They want to keep our kids safe. They want to protect the homeland. They want to put violent criminals in jail like we’re doing in Operation Restore Justice this week and so many operations across the country,” Director Patel responded.
“My commitment to them and to you is to make sure they get the resources they need and the training, the continued training, that’s the key with our Redstone Arsenal. While we have Quantico for our new agents and new Intel analysts, where we send them to get advanced training only occurs at Redstone,” he concluded.
Senator Britt’s full line of questioning can be viewed here.
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