FBI Director Kash Patel Faces Scrutiny Over Personal Use of Government Jet

Through late 2025, reporting found that FBI Director Kash Patel repeatedly used the FBI's government jet for travel coinciding with personal events, including a trip to watch his girlfriend, singer Alexis Wilkins, perform the national anthem at a wrestling event, and a visit to a luxury Texas hunting resort. FBI directors are generally required to fly on the jet for security reasons, but are supposed to reimburse the government for personal-travel legs at commercial rates.

House Judiciary Democrats opened an inquiry into the travel, and lawmakers demanded Patel reimburse taxpayers and produce records. Patel defended the trips, saying he is entitled to a personal life and that all FBI directors are required users of the jet regardless of purpose.

Critics noted the irony given Patel's past criticism of predecessor Christopher Wray's use of a government jet for personal travel. The episode became part of a broader pattern of ethics questions surrounding senior Trump-administration officials' use of public resources for personal benefit.