Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science, participated in a recent hearing reviewing the Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The hearing featured testimony from FBI Director Kash Patel and focused in part on the FBI’s operations and infrastructure investments, including developments at FBI Redstone in Huntsville, Alabama.
During her remarks, Senator Britt thanked Director Patel for his recent visit to the FBI Redstone Arsenal, commending the FBI’s work in addressing violent crime, terrorism, and emerging threats. She also recognized the agency’s efforts to shift more personnel and resources away from Washington, D.C., to Huntsville, where FBI Redstone has become a hub for advanced training and technical capabilities.
Britt’s comments came following a tour she hosted in Huntsville last month, where she and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) joined Director Patel at several key facilities on the Redstone campus. The tour included the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC), the Ballistic Research Facility (BRF), and The Improvised Explosive Detection and Synthesis Center (TIEDS). The delegation also observed a demonstration on the FBI’s Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) capabilities.
Director Patel described Redstone as one of the FBI’s “jewels,” stating that its facilities provide unique resources not available elsewhere to interagency partners such as the CIA, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). He outlined the need to complete infrastructure projects on the South campus to accommodate additional staff and interagency training initiatives.
“You absolutely have my commitment and the commitment of the Bureau,” Patel said in response to Senator Britt’s request for collaboration on construction and support. He highlighted the role of Redstone’s Bomb Technical Center, which trains all special agent bomb technicians in the U.S., as an example of the site’s national importance.
Senator Britt concluded her questions by asking Patel about his experiences in the early months of his tenure, to which he responded by praising the commitment of field personnel and reiterating his focus on ensuring agents receive the training and resources they need. Patel noted that while the FBI Academy at Quantico serves new recruits, advanced training now takes place at Redstone Arsenal.
The hearing served as a platform to spotlight both the FBI’s evolving operational priorities and Redstone Arsenal’s expanding role within the agency’s national security infrastructure.
