FBI sees record number of applications under Kash Patel's leadership

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been flooded with new agent applications since Trump-appointed FBI Director Kash Patel took the helm at the agency in late February. Overall, there have been over 10,000 new applications since January, when Trump entered office.

In March 2025 alone, there were 5,577 applications to the FBI, per a report from Fox News. The last time there was a number close to that was in April 2016, when there were 5,283 applications to the FBI. In 2023, the monthly average was 2,797 and 3,383 applications was the monthly average in 2024.

"Director Patel and Deputy Director (Dan) Bongino have put a major emphasis on restoring confidence in federal law enforcement and boosting new agent recruiting," Ben Williamson, an FBI spokesman, told Fox News. "These record early returns certainly suggest the new FBI is heading in the right direction."

He added, "Our team will continue to recruit the best law enforcement personnel in the country. We hope to see even more brave men and women want to be a part of what we’re building." 

In January, Trump's first month in office, the FBI saw a total of 4,143 applications to join the bureau, which was the first time there had been over 4,000 applications since August 2020.

"The record number of FBI job applications in March shows that people are inspired by Kash Patel’s commitment to restoring integrity and effectiveness at the bureau," Erica Knight, an advisor to Patel, told the outlet. "Americans are putting their trust in his leadership to rebuild the FBI and keep our communities safe."

She added that "this is just the beginning. Kash is dedicated to creating a stronger, more trusted FBI that serves the American people the way it was always meant to.”