Only two more Cabinet-level nominees remain: Education designee Linda McMahon and Labor designee Lori Chavez-DeRemer (who could lose some Republican votes due to her relatively pro-labor record but could well pick up a number of Democrats).

Two high-profile Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, notably voted against his confirmation. Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader, who announced Thursday he will not be seeking re-election in 2026, voted in favor of Patel's nomination, which came as a surprise to many.

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Kash Patel to serve as the head of the FBI, approving a pick with a string of controversial statements who has been accused by Democrats of directing a purge of bureau employees.

The Senate has bowed to Trump by confirming his problematic nominees for high-level positions, most recently Kash Patel

The U.S. Senate confirmed Kash Patel as President Donald Trump's director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday.