FBI Decentralizing Command Structure

In his May 8, 2025 opening statement to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel acknowledged on the congressional record that the FBI was "realigning our organizational structure to streamline operations." Earlier reporting by the New York Times described the specific change: to decentralize its command structure and move to a regional model. The previous command structure had all field offices reporting to the deputy director. The new decentralized structure would mean that those field offices will report to three branch directors at headquarters who will be in charge of the East, West and Central regions. The remaining three F.B.I. offices and the largest in the country — New York, Washington and Los Angeles — will continue to answer to the deputy director.