FBI Director Kash Patel is firing back — and doing so in classic Trump-era fashion — after CNN ran a story over the weekend falsely claiming he’s planning to gut the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). According to CNN’s fantasy fanfic, Patel was allegedly plotting to slash a third of ATF agents and transfer 1,000 of them over to the FBI, a move the outlet gleefully claimed would please gun rights advocates. Problem is? None of it’s true.
In a memo obtained by Fox News Digital, Patel flatly denied the report, labeling it “entirely false.” He told ATF personnel directly, “The fake news will NEVER be responsible for operational command authority over the ATF — we are.” That’s what leadership sounds like. Not taking marching orders from a propaganda outlet in Atlanta.
SHOTS FIRED: @Kash_Patel blasts CNN over "entirely false" report about potential job cuts. The FBI director squashed the network's claims in a memo to employees, telling workers they "will not have their security jeopardized by the media’s disinformation campaigns." pic.twitter.com/NQtWRFPCiL
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 25, 2025
CNN’s “report” was built on anonymous sources and speculation — shocker — and claimed that Patel backed off his “plans” after Republican allies pushed back. This magical shift supposedly occurred after CNN’s article dropped. So now CNN wants us to believe they have real-time influence over FBI staffing policy? Give us a break.
Patel, who was confirmed as FBI Director last month, is the kind of no-nonsense, battle-tested leader President Trump has always trusted. He’s made it crystal clear he’s not interested in playing footsie with deep-state operatives or bending the knee to corrupt media conglomerates. In fact, he’s declared all-out war on them.
At his swearing-in ceremony, Patel didn’t sugarcoat it: “You have written everything you possibly can about me that’s fake, malicious, slanderous and defamatory. Keep it coming. Bring it on.” But he also made one thing perfectly clear — leave the rank-and-file agents alone. He’s not going to let corrupt media smear campaigns take down hard-working men and women doing their jobs.
This is the kind of leadership the FBI desperately needs. For too long, the Bureau has been weaponized by the Left — from Russia hoaxes to pro-life surveillance. Under Patel’s leadership, that era is coming to a hard stop.
The bottom line? CNN lied. Again. Patel isn’t cutting ATF agents or playing shell games with personnel. He’s rebuilding the FBI into what it should be — a law enforcement agency that serves the American people, not political interests. And if that terrifies the deep state and their media lapdogs? Good. It means he’s doing something right.