WASHINGTON – Just a couple weeks after his visit to Huntsville, FBI Director Kash Patel reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to expanding operations at Redstone Arsenal, calling it one of the FBI’s “jewels.”
“You absolutely have my commitment and the commitment of the bureau,” he told U.S. Sen. Katie Britt during a Senate budge hearing. “We are just going to need to continue to work together to make sure, one, people see what we’re doing at Redstone, and two, the interagency requests that are now coming in from our partners at CIA, at DHS, at CBP, to come there and train, and to also recognize the importance of facilities like the Bomb Technical Center, where every SABT (special agent bomb technician) in the country … is trained. It doesn’t happen anywhere else.
“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel that’s already there. We just need to finish it. And you have my commitment to finish it.”
Britt (R-Montgomery), a member of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee on Appropriations, participated in a hearing for the Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the FBI.
“The work that the men and women of the FBI are doing to combat violent crime, terrorism, and other threats has never been more important,” Britt said. “I am proud to work with you and proud to see the work you’re already doing to reduce the FBI footprint in D.C. and streamline the FBI’s operation and (reallocate) personnel to FBI Redstone.”
Last month, Britt and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) hosted Patel at FBI Redstone along with Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.). They toured the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center, the Ballistic Research Facility, and the Improvised Explosive Detection and Synthesis Center. They also received a demonstration on the FBI’s Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
“His visit reaffirms his support for Redstone Arsenal’s invaluable role in American national security,” Britt said. “I’m grateful he was able to meet some of the Alabamians who put in the work, day-in and day-out, to protect our homeland.”
Britt touted FBI Redstone’s “cutting edge capability” and thanked Patel for making “filling seats at Redstone and immediate priority.”
Patel responded, “Redstone is one of the jewels that the FBI has … It’s our commitment to make sure the interagency, along with America, sees what we’re doing and gets trained there because the facilities you cited don’t exist for the interagency anywhere else …
“We need to continue the plans that you and your predecessors have laid out through the appropriations process, to complete the buildings on the South campus and to allow for more individuals to be there on a temporary and permanent basis …”
Britt additionally emphasized her continued advocacy for FBI Redstone, asking Patel what he needs from Congress to support the FBI’s mission.
“It’s important that the FBI be in a position, though, to continue to build out its capability at Redstone Arsenal,” she said. “… will you commit to working with me on all of the construction projects that are planned at FBI Redstone and that they’re sustained and completed?
“And is there anything additional you need from Congress to ensure that the FBI’s operational goals are met long term? We would like to be your partner.”
Patel once again reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring FBI Redstone gets the funding and needed resources.
“My commitment to them and to you is to make sure they get the resources they need and the training, the continued training, that’s the key with our Redstone Arsenal,” he said. “While we have Quantico for our new agents and new intel analysts, where we send them to get advanced training only occurs at Redstone.”
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