FBI Director Kash Patel has floated the idea of using Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) trainers to improve agents’ martial arts skills, according to four people familiar with the plan.
Patel raised the proposal during his first video call with the FBI’s 55 field office supervisors on Wednesday. Two sources briefed on the discussion described the idea as "surreal" and "wacky."
The FBI declined to comment on the plan, and UFC has not yet responded.
President Donald Trump, a longtime fan of mixed martial arts, attended a UFC event in New York shortly after his election victory in November. UFC President Dana White, a close friend of Trump, has supported him in past campaigns.
During the call, Patel credited Dan Bongino, a far-right podcaster and Trump ally, with inspiring the initiative. Bongino, set to become the FBI's deputy director in mid-March, is reportedly a UFC fan. Patel suggested exploring a partnership with the organization for training purposes.
A former Justice Department official, speaking anonymously, criticized the move, calling it "clearly motivated by glitz and glamour" rather than operational needs.
Since taking office last week, Patel has already begun restructuring the FBI. He has ordered the relocation of 1,500 employees from Washington, D.C., to field offices and an FBI site in Huntsville, Alabama. His book, Government Gangsters, outlines plans to decentralize FBI operations and reduce staffing at headquarters.
Patel reaffirmed his commitment to these changes during the field office call. He also announced that Bongino will begin visiting FBI offices shortly after assuming his role in March.
It remains unclear how a partnership between the FBI and UFC would function.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
he Trump administration has replaced the Covid.gov website, once a central hub for COVID-19 resources, with a new platform focusing on the lab leak theory regarding the virus's origins.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter, set to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday his plan to reclassify approximately 50,000 federal workers under a new category, "Schedule Policy/Career," which would make it easier to fire civil servants who do not align with his administration's policy agenda.
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order early Saturday blocking the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members from Texas under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law from 1798.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s reluctance to support military action, Israel has not ruled out launching a limited strike on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months, according to Israeli and other sources familiar with the matter.
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Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said of Oman is scheduled to visit Moscow on Monday, just days after the commencement of a new round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks mediated by Muscat.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with senior Vatican officials on Saturday for talks that the Vatican described as "cordial," following ongoing criticisms of the Trump administration’s policies, particularly regarding immigration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter, set to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with senior Vatican officials on Saturday for talks that the Vatican described as "cordial," following ongoing criticisms of the Trump administration’s policies, particularly regarding immigration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter, set to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday his plan to reclassify approximately 50,000 federal workers under a new category, "Schedule Policy/Career," which would make it easier to fire civil servants who do not align with his administration's policy agenda.
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order early Saturday blocking the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members from Texas under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law from 1798.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s reluctance to support military action, Israel has not ruled out launching a limited strike on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months, according to Israeli and other sources familiar with the matter.
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