Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Flag of the FBI
Seal of the FBI
Incumbent Kash Patel since February 21, 2025
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Reports to	Attorney General Director of National Intelligence
Seat	J. Edgar Hoover Building, Washington, D.C.
Appointer	The president with Senate advice and consent
Term length	At the pleasure of the president. (10 years by statute), renewable (only by the Senate)
Formation	July 26, 1908
First holder	Stanley Finch
Deputy	Deputy Director

The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is the main leader of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI is a very important law enforcement agency in the United States. The Director is in charge of how the FBI works every day.

The President of the United States chooses the FBI Director. The Senate then has to agree with the President's choice. The Director serves for a single 10-year term. The FBI is part of the Department of Justice, so the Director reports to the Attorney General.

Before 2004, the Director only reported to the President about FBI matters. After a law was passed in 2004, the Director also reports to the Director of National Intelligence. This is because the FBI is also part of the group of agencies that gather information for national security.

The current FBI Director is Kash Patel. He started his role on February 21, 2025.

How the Director is Chosen and Serves

The President picks the FBI Director. Since 1972, the Senate must approve this choice. This approval process is called "advice and consent."

The longest-serving Director was J. Edgar Hoover. He led the FBI from 1935 until he passed away in 1972. Because he served for so long, Congress decided in 1976 to limit future Directors to a 10-year term. This rule helps keep the Director separate from political pressures.

However, a Director can leave office earlier if they resign, pass away, or are removed by the President. If a Director is removed, the Deputy Director steps in as acting Director until a new one is approved.

What the Director Does

The FBI Director, along with the Deputy Director, makes sure that all FBI cases and operations are handled correctly. They also choose qualified agents to lead the many FBI offices across the country.

How Nominations Work

When the President chooses someone to be the FBI Director, that person's name goes to the Senate Judiciary Committee. This committee holds meetings where they learn more about the person. After these meetings, the committee votes on whether to recommend the person to the full Senate. If the committee approves, the whole Senate then votes to confirm the new Director.

History of FBI Leaders

The FBI has had different names and leaders over the years.

Early Leaders (1908–1935)

When the Bureau of Investigation (BOI) started in 1908, its leader was called the Chief. Later, the title changed to Director of the Bureau of Investigation. In 1935, the BOI became the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and its leader became the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Some of the early leaders included Stanley Finch, A. Bruce Bielaski, and William J. Flynn. J. Edgar Hoover became the Director in 1924 when it was still the BOI, and continued when it became the FBI.

FBI Directors (1935–Present)

Since 1935, the FBI has been an independent part of the Department of Justice. The Senate has had to approve the President's choice for Director since 1972.

J. Edgar Hoover was the first official Director of the FBI, serving from 1935 until 1972. After him, several people have served as Director, including Clarence M. Kelley, William H. Webster, William S. Sessions, Louis Freeh, Robert Mueller, James Comey, and Christopher A. Wray. The current Director is Kash Patel.

Directors Who Were Dismissed

Only two FBI Directors have been removed from office: William S. Sessions in 1993 and James Comey in 2017.

William S. Sessions' Dismissal

In 1993, there were concerns about Director William S. Sessions' actions. The Attorney General at the time said he showed "serious deficiencies in judgment." Even though Sessions said he did nothing wrong, President Bill Clinton removed him from office on July 19, 1993. President Clinton explained that he had lost trust in Sessions' leadership.

After Sessions was dismissed, the Deputy Director, Floyd I. Clarke, became the acting Director for a short time. Then, Louis Freeh was chosen as the new Director.

James Comey's Dismissal

On May 9, 2017, President Donald Trump dismissed Director James Comey. This decision was made after recommendations from the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General. President Trump stated that he had lost confidence in Comey's leadership.

When Comey was dismissed, he learned about it from news reports while giving a speech. The Deputy Director, Andrew McCabe, became the acting Director until Christopher A. Wray was confirmed as the new Director.

See also

In Spanish: Director del FBI para niños

• Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
• Federal law enforcement in the United States

Images for kids

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  William S. Sessions

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  Louis Freeh

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  Robert Mueller

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  James Comey

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  Christopher A. Wray

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  Kash Patel

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  Stanley Finch

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  A. Bruce Bielaski

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  William E. Allen

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  William J. Flynn

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  William J. Burns

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  J. Edgar Hoover (younger)

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  J. Edgar Hoover

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  Clyde Tolson

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  L. Patrick Gray

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  William Ruckelshaus

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  Clarence M. Kelley

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  James B. Adams

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  William H. Webster

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  John E. Otto

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  Floyd I. Clarke

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  Thomas J. Pickard

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  James Comey

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  Andrew McCabe

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  Paul Abbate

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  Kash Patel