A former head of the FBI and CIA is raising objections over whether Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s picks to be directors of the FBI and national intelligence, respectively, are qualified to serve in the Cabinet.
In a letter to senators on Thursday, William Webster, the only person to lead both the FBI and CIA, wrote that neither nominee meets the demands of top intelligence jobs.
Webster, who is 100 years old, praised Patel’s patriotism but wrote that his allegiance to Trump was concerning.
“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,” he said.
When it came to Gabbard, Webster wrote that her “profound lack” of intelligence experience stood in contrast to the seasoned leadership needed for the role.
“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. “Without that trust, our ability to safeguard sensitive secrets and collaborate internationally is severely diminished.”
Trump’s transition did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Webster was appointed FBI director in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter and remained director under President Ronald Reagan until 1987. Reagan tapped him to be head of the CIA until 1991, under President George H.W. Bush.
“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.”