Inside Kash Patel's Troubled Tenure: Drinking, Absences, and a National Security Concern

A Director in Free Fall

Kash Patel's tenure as FBI Director has descended into chaos marked by erratic behavior, excessive drinking, and unexplained absences that have alarmed colleagues across law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The crisis came to a head on April 10 when Patel, unable to access an internal computer system, panicked and frantically called aides claiming he'd been fired by the White House. News of his emotional outburst—described by colleagues as a "freak-out"—rippled through the bureau, prompting officials and members of Congress to call asking who was actually running the FBI. It was a technical error. He hadn't been fired. Yet.

"It was all ultimately bullshit," one FBI official said of the incident.

But the episode reveals a deeper crisis: Patel is deeply concerned his job is in jeopardy, and for good reason. Multiple current and former officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, describe his tenure as a management failure and his personal behavior as a national-security vulnerability. The White House is already discussing potential replacements, according to administration sources.

The Drinking Problem

More than two dozen people interviewed for this investigation—including current and former FBI officials, law enforcement staff, and congressional members—paint a portrait of a director whose alcohol use has become a recurring point of concern across the government. Patel is known to drink to obvious intoxication at Ned's, a private Washington club where he frequents with White House and administration staff. He also regularly drinks to excess at the Poodle Room in Las Vegas during weekend trips.

The impact on operations has been concrete and measurable. Early in his tenure, meetings and briefings had to be rescheduled for later in the day to accommodate his alcohol-fueled nights, according to six current and former officials. On multiple occasions, members of his security detail have had difficulty waking him because he appeared intoxicated. In one alarming incident last year, a request for "breaching equipment"—normally used by SWAT and hostage-rescue teams to quickly enter buildings—was made because Patel had been unreachable behind locked doors.

"That's what keeps me up at night," one official said, expressing concern about Patel's availability during a potential domestic terrorist attack.

FBI officials worry his behavior has become a direct threat to public safety. With the nation engaged in military operations against Iran and facing ongoing terrorism risks, an FBI director must remain consistently available and focused. Several current and former officials said they've long worried about what would happen during a major crisis with Patel in office, and their apprehension has increased significantly since Trump launched military operations against Iran.

From Rising Star to Embattled Director

Patel arrived at the FBI in early 2025 as a deeply polarizing figure. He rose from public defender in Miami to congressional aide and national-security official in Trump's first administration. During his confirmation hearing, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley praised him as "the right change agent for the FBI," arguing the bureau needed "a big shake-up." Though Patel vowed there would be "no retributive actions" against staff involved in Trump investigations, Democrats remained skeptical given his history of embracing conspiracy theories, including the discredited claim that the FBI helped instigate January 6.

Despite wavering Republican support, a White House pressure campaign secured his confirmation by a razor-thin 51-49 vote. Many inside the FBI initially hoped he could provide needed reforms and a fresh start. That optimism has evaporated. Even enthusiastic supporters have since been disappointed.

Management Crisis and Operational Failures

Patel has proven an irregular presence at FBI headquarters and field offices, and his frequent absences have compounded the agency's existing bureaucratic problems. Officials report he is often away or unreachable, delaying time-sensitive decisions critical to ongoing investigations. Several current and former officials said Patel's delays have caused normally unflappable agents to "lose their shit."

His impulsive judgment during high-stakes investigations has also backfired publicly. He triumphantly announced on social media that the FBI had "detained a person of interest" in the Brown University shooting in December—only to have that person released shortly after while agents continued searching for the actual killer.

The White House Response and Political Jeopardy

When asked detailed questions about Patel's conduct, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt responded with a statement touting crime statistics: "Under Donald Trump and Patel, crime across the country has plummeted to the lowest level in more than 100 years and many high profile criminals have been put behind bars." Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche dismissed the reporting as an "anonymously sourced hit piece" that "does not constitute journalism."

Patel himself responded with bluster, declaring through an FBI statement: "Print it, all false, I'll see you in court—bring your checkbook."

Yet the political reality is clear: Patel faces potential removal. He was among officials expected to be fired following Attorney General Pam Bondi's ouster on April 2. "We're all just waiting for the word" that Patel is officially out, one FBI official said this week. A former official described Patel as "rightly paranoid" about his position. His erratic behavior and inability to fulfill basic leadership functions—combined with damaging reporting on his personal conduct—have made him a liability even to an administration that initially backed his nomination. The countdown to his potential exit appears already underway.