FBI Director Kash Patel has been accused of directing more than $1 million in taxpayer-funded bonuses to a small group of loyalist agents, some receiving nearly $8,000 every two weeks despite hitting the federal salary ceiling [1, 2]. These payments drained FBI reserve accounts, causing some bonus checks to bounce [1].
The main recipients belonged to Patel's "Director’s Advisory Team," created in 2025 to target federal law enforcement officials who had investigated former President Donald Trump and his allies [1]. Representative Jamie Raskin criticized the payments, questioning why agents were receiving extra pay "simply for doing their jobs" and whether the bonuses compensated "actions outside of their duties and outside of the law." He added, "We write to find out precisely how much slush fund largess you have put on the American taxpayer’s tab" [1].
Patel was questioned by Democratic senators in May 2026 about FBI polygraph tests but denied the FBI targeted journalists, stating, "I can tell you unequivocally this FBI is targeting and investigating no journalists" [1].
House Judiciary Committee Democrats alerted Patel to reports of the bonus payments in mid-June 2026, expressing concerns about the legality and political motivation behind the disbursements [1, 2]. The alleged payments amounted to close to $40,000 per agent over five pay periods [1].
Patel’s creation of this advisory unit and the bonus allocation remains under scrutiny by congressional Democrats, who have questioned the appropriate use of federal funds for these bonuses. Investigations and hearings on the matter are expected to continue following the June 2026 disclosures.
