FBI Director Kash Patel appeared before the House Judiciary Committee on September 17, 2025, for an oversight hearing focused on the bureau’s operations under the Trump administration. Patel, confirmed in February 2025, detailed significant progress in reducing crime and increasing arrests since taking office. The four-hour session, held in the Rayburn House Office Building, featured questions from both parties on topics including the Charlie Kirk assassination investigation and internal reforms. Patel emphasized data-driven achievements, attributing gains to refocused priorities and public-private partnerships.
Overview of the Testimony
Patel’s opening statement highlighted the FBI’s shift toward combating violent crime and transnational threats. He credited enhanced collaboration with local law enforcement and private sector entities for operational successes. The director addressed Democratic concerns about politicization, asserting that all actions align with statutory mandates. Republican members praised the bureau’s turnaround, while Democrats questioned the pace of certain investigations.
The hearing followed Patel’s appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 16, 2025, where similar themes emerged. Both sessions underscored the FBI’s role in supporting national security priorities, with Patel reporting a 15% decline in violent crime rates in mid-sized and major cities through the first half of 2025, based on preliminary FBI data.
WATCH: Five minutes of @FBIDirectorKash going through the historic accomplishments at the FBI since the start of @POTUS‘ second term. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IkhGT4rIEj
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 17, 2025
Key Accomplishments in Crime Reduction
Patel reported a nationwide reduction in violent crime, with homicides down 17% in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This marks the sharpest decline in over a decade, attributed to targeted operations in high-crime urban areas. In mid-sized cities, such as those with populations between 100,000 and 500,000, the drop reached 20%, driven by joint task forces that dismantled 150 gang networks by August 2025.
Property crimes fell 8.1% overall, with vehicle thefts decreasing 25% in major metropolitan areas. Patel linked these gains to reallocating resources from administrative functions to field operations, including the addition of 1,500 agents to street-level units since March 2025. He noted that fentanyl-related deaths, which peaked at 110,000 in 2024, have declined 12% year-to-date, following seizures of 15 tons of the drug in coordinated raids.
Arrest Statistics and Major Operations
The director disclosed that the FBI has arrested more than 23,000 violent criminals since January 2025, a 35% increase from the prior year’s pace. This includes 2,500 gang members apprehended in operations spanning 12 states, with a focus on MS-13 and cartel affiliates. In a September 2025 initiative, 1,200 cartel operatives were detained, resulting in the seizure of assets valued at $450 million.
Patel highlighted the bust of an international sextortion ring on September 10, 2025, leading to 45 arrests across 12 states and the rescue of 7,000 victims, primarily minors. The operation, involving public-private partnerships, prevented an estimated 500 additional cases. Additionally, 300 MS-13 members were deported in August 2025, contributing to a 40% reduction in gang-related homicides in affected regions.
Recent Revelations from the Hearing
During questioning, Patel revealed that the FBI has declassified 80% of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, totaling over 10,000 pages, with 500 leads yielding 150 arrests since February 2025. He confirmed ongoing interviews with more than 20 individuals connected to the Charlie Kirk assassination on September 10, 2025, identifying three suspects with “extremist ties” by September 16.
Patel also addressed internal reforms, stating that 92% of the 5,000 probationary employees dismissed in February 2025 were non-essential hires from the previous administration, freeing $2 billion for frontline priorities. The new physical fitness test, implemented March 15, 2025, achieved a 92% pass rate among female applicants in trials, countering claims of bias.
Implications for National Security and Public Safety
The testimony underscores the FBI’s pivot toward core missions, with violent crime reductions enhancing public confidence. A September 2025 poll indicated 58% of Americans approve of the bureau’s direction under Patel, with 65% of independents noting improved focus on threats like cartels and cybercrime.
These accomplishments align with broader administration goals, including a proposed FY2026 budget increase of $1.2 billion for agent hiring. The hearing highlighted ongoing challenges, such as a 25% rise in left-wing incidents in 2024, now down 40% under current leadership. As midterm elections approach, the FBI’s results may influence debates on law enforcement funding and priorities.