The FBI under Director Kash Patel does not allow individuals who have engaged in bestiality to be employed as FBI agents.
Posted by The Dan Bongino Show, Checked
- Sources
- 2 contradict4 support1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 60%
The Dan Bongino ShowSep 16, 2026
Read as the post intended (someone who voluntarily engaged in bestiality is barred from FBI employment), the record supports the claim: Patel testified that voluntary participants are still disqualified, and ThePrint reports he answered 'No' when asked whether someone who had sex with an animal could become an agent.
Our two reads of who says this, and how, disagree, so it counts as the post's own claim.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… Someone asked me about this at a volleyball game because they believe it, because they didn't do the homework and they listen to the soundbite. That's how powerful soundbites are, folks. It's been explained a thousand times. No, you are not allowed to be an FBI employee if you engaged in bestiality. There were young victims of sex crimes who were failing polygraphs because they were abused and forced to partake in some of this grotesque behavior. They had led amazing life. They were victims. …
The Dan Bongino Show · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. AP reports the FBI changed its guidance to allow some applicants who have engaged in bestiality to be considered for employment, which conflicts with the literal claim that the FBI does not allow any individuals who engaged in bestiality to be employed.[1][2]
Supports. Patel testified that bestiality is no longer an automatic disqualifier, but that someone who 'voluntarily' engaged in it would still not be hired ('If he voluntarily did it, sure'), supporting the intended reading.[3][4][5]
Supports. ThePrint reports that when Kennedy asked whether someone who had sex with an animal could still become an FBI agent, Patel answered 'No'.[6]
Context. Newsweek and NBC describe the change as removing an automatic disqualification for applicants who were trafficked into bestiality, while voluntary participants remain disqualified. Durbin and some critics dispute that the change lowered standards.[3][5][7]
Sources
7 sources: 1 fact-checker, 4 not rated, 2 tier 2
- 1FBI Director Kash Patel at Senate hearing | AP Newsapnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: contradicts
- 2FBI chief Kash Patel defends hiring policy changes on prostitution, bestiality at fiery hearing - The Boston Globebostonglobe.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 3Kash Patel defends FBI’s new policy on bestiality at Senate hearingnbcnews.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports, context
- 4WATCH: Patel explains why FBI no longer considers bestiality ...pbs.org · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 5Patel defends FBI hiring policy after bestiality controversynewsweek.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 6FBI chief Kash Patel defends hiring policy change on prostitution, bestialitytheprint.in · not rated · cited for: supports
- 7Kash Patel Defends FBI Hiring Rules on Bestiality in Heated Senate ...people.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- The FBI Director stated that the FBI is focused on helping victims of bestiality become FBI agents.True
- Kash Patel stated that applicants who engaged in bestiality were victims of bestiality because they were forced to do so.Mixed
- Kash Patel is the Director of the FBI.True
- Kash Patel serves as FBI Director.True
- Senator Dick Durbin asked Kash Patel about the FBI's hiring criteria regarding individuals who have engaged in bestiality.True