Scrutiny Mounts Over FBI Director’s Use of Government Aircraft for Olympics Trip

2026-02-23 politics

Milan, Monday, 23 February 2026.
FBI Director Kash Patel faces intense scrutiny for utilizing a government jet, estimated at $75,000, to attend the Winter Olympics, where he was filmed celebrating with the U.S. hockey team despite claims of official security business.

The Intersection of Official Duty and Spectacle

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, FBI Director Kash Patel was observed in Milan, Italy, attending the men’s ice hockey game where the United States defeated Canada 2-to-1 in overtime [1][2]. Following the match, Patel was filmed in the team’s locker room alongside player Dylan Larkin, where the director was seen drinking beer and making a “shaka” hand sign [2][4]. Reports indicate that Patel utilized an FBI Gulfstream jet for this trans-Atlantic journey [5], a flight estimated to have cost taxpayers approximately $75,000 [3]. This expenditure has drawn sharp focus given the director’s history of travel-related controversies, which previously earned him the moniker “Make-a-Wish Director” among critics [1].

Bureaucratic Defense Amid Public Outcry

In response to the backlash, the FBI has staunchly defended the trip as official government business. Ben Williamson, the FBI assistant director for public affairs, aggressively pushed back against media inquiries, stating that Patel was in Italy to conduct high-level meetings with ambassadors, Italian law enforcement, and U.S. agents regarding Olympic security [3]. Williamson characterized the criticism as false, telling one outlet, “Your rag outlet wrote that he went to hang out at the Olympics on the taxpayer dime — even when provided information that your theory was false” [1][3]. Patel also highlighted these diplomatic efforts, announcing a new cybersecurity agreement with Italian ministers during his visit [1].

Operational Strain and Domestic Crises

The timing of the trip has intensified the scrutiny, as the bureau navigates a particularly volatile period described as “fraught and frenetic” [2]. Just prior to his appearance with the hockey team, on Saturday, February 21, 2026, a 21-year-old man armed with a shotgun was fatally shot by law enforcement after breaching the perimeter of Mar-a-Lago [1][8]. While Patel addressed the deployment of FBI resources to the scene via social media [1], critics argue that his presence at a sporting event in Europe blurred the lines between professional responsibility and personal recreation during a domestic security crisis [2]. Additionally, the bureau is currently managing the high-profile kidnapping case of Nancy Guthrie [3].

A Pattern of Executive Travel

This incident adds to a growing list of complaints regarding Patel’s use of government resources. Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee had previously requested records in December 2025 to verify if the director had reimbursed the agency for personal travel, following allegations of misuse involving trips to Scotland and Texas [1]. Patel has maintained that he is entitled to a personal life and has defended his travel habits, stating, “I’ve also used the airplane less than my prior two predecessors” [1]. However, with the estimated flight costs for the Milan trip reaching tens of thousands of dollars [3], the debate over the appropriate use of agency funds for mixed-purpose travel remains a central point of contention in Washington.

Sources

Government Spending Political Ethics