FBI director Kash Patel under scrutiny for using SWAT teams to protect his girlfriend

These concerns come alongside scrutiny of Patel’s frequent use of government aircraft

When country singer Alexis Wilkins walked onto the stage at the National Rifle Association’s annual convention in Atlanta this spring, she did so with an unusual level of protection. Members of an FBI SWAT team had been dispatched to the venue on the orders of FBI director Kash Patel, her boyfriend of about three years. The deployment raised eyebrows inside the bureau, especially when the agents quietly withdrew after determining she faced no immediate danger. Their departure angered Patel and triggered a larger controversy that now threatens to overshadow his leadership, the New York Times reported.

Security resources under question

Patel’s decision to assign highly trained tactical agents to guard his girlfriend has prompted internal concern about whether he is stretching, or even exceeding, standard security protocols. SWAT teams are generally used for high-risk missions such as hostage rescues and executing dangerous warrants, not personal protection. Current and former officials say their involvement in Wilkins’s appearances appears ad hoc and lacks the careful planning usually required for VIP security. Some agents have been given little notice before being dispatched, raising operational and legal questions about whether they would be protected from liability if forced to use force in a nonstandard assignment.

Jet travel adds to criticism

These concerns come alongside scrutiny of Patel’s frequent use of government aircraft. While directors must travel on government planes for secure communications, personal trips typically require reimbursement equivalent to a commercial ticket, far below the real cost of operating a Gulfstream jet. Patel has flown to Scotland for a golf trip, visited friends at a private hunting ranch in Texas, and travelled to see Wilkins perform, often with significant advance security support. The expenses have drawn complaints even from conservative commentators who previously cheered his efforts to overhaul the bureau.

Internal tensions and political fallout

The issue has triggered rare public criticism from former agents who accuse Patel of lacking judgment and abusing his position. Some conservative influencers have questioned why Wilkins receives protection normally reserved for spouses, despite not holding that status. The FBI has declined to provide detailed accounting of the costs, but a spokesman says the security is justified by hundreds of death threats directed at Wilkins since Patel took office. Critics argue that while threats may warrant protection when the couple travels together, diverting tactical teams for her solo appearances is highly irregular.

A director who embraces the perks

Since taking over in February, Patel has developed a reputation for enjoying the ceremonial trappings of his post, from personalised coins to branded jackets. His approach contrasts sharply with predecessors like Robert Mueller, who rarely used government planes for personal reasons. Some officials say the director has even tried to limit public awareness of his travel. After journalists used flight-tracking data to reveal his attendance at a wrestling event where Wilkins performed, he reportedly removed a senior official for failing to conceal the jet’s identification number.

A unique situation without clear precedent

Part of the difficulty stems from the fact that Patel is the first unmarried FBI director since J. Edgar Hoover. Traditionally, spouses receive occasional protection, particularly when accompanying the director. But Wilkins maintains her own public profile as a performer, activist and outspoken conservative figure who promotes the couple as a political partnership. That visibility has intensified debate over whether she should receive extensive taxpayer-funded protection when the director is not present.

For now, supporters argue that credible threats justify the security measures, while critics see an alarming pattern of personal privilege influencing the use of government assets. As budget cuts loom and internal morale remains fragile, the controversy over SWAT deployments and private travel has become a symbol of broader concerns about leadership and accountability. Whether investigations or political pressure force changes remains unclear, but the questions surrounding Patel’s use of resources show no sign of fading.