The safety of the American people could be in jeopardy if Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard emerge in key national security positions in Donald Trump’s cabinet, according to a former CIA and FBI head who openly questioned whether the two were qualified to serve in the critical roles.
The stark assessment from William Webster, the only person to lead both the FBI and CIA, came Thursday in a letter to senators, Politico reported. In it, he urged lawmakers to reject both Patel and Gabbard – who Trump tapped to become the country’s next FBI and national intelligence directors, respectively.
While he commended Patel’s patriotism, Webster wrote that the MAGA loyalist's allegiance to Trump was cause for concern.
“His record of executing the president’s directives suggest a loyalty to individuals rather than the rule of law — a dangerous precedent for an agency tasked with impartial enforcement of justice,” Webster wrote in the letter.
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Turning his attention to Gabbard, Webster found her “profound lack” of intelligence experience couldn’t meet the demands of the leadership needed for the position. The former Democratic lawmaker turned Trump ally who has raised eyebrows for her ties to Russia and her controversial 2017 meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
“Effective management of our intelligence community requires unparalleled expertise to navigate the complexities of global threats and to maintain the trust of allied nations,” he wrote in the letter, according to Politico. “Without that trust, our ability to safeguard sensitive secrets and collaborate internationally is severely diminished.”
Webster, who served as President Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush’s CIA and FBI Director, added that the two Trump picks could very well put the public at risk.
“I urge you to weigh the critical importance of nonpartisan leadership and experience,” Webster wrote. “The safety of the American people — and your own families — depends on it.”
Webster was among more than 100 Republican former national security and foreign policy officials who signed on to oppose Trump and endorse the Harris-Walz campaign in last month’s presidential election.
