Kash Patel was sworn in as the new FBI director in a brief ceremony following a narrow Senate confirmation vote.

In a ceremony Friday at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Attorney General Pam Bondi administered the oath of office. Mr. Patel, who is the first person of color to head the FBI, was surrounded by his girlfriend and family standing beside him.

He has pledged to clean house at the agency that he and President Trump have criticized for politicizing investigations for partisan aims.

Republican Sens. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Ted Cruz of Texas attended the event along with Rep. Jim Jordan, Ohio Republican, special missions envoy Richard Grenell and NSC counterterrorism senior director Sebastian Gorka.

Mr. Patel succeeds Christopher Wray, who was appointed by President Trump in 2017, as the ninth FBI director. Mr. Wray resigned ahead of Mr. Trump’s inauguration.

“I am honored to be confirmed as the ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Mr. Patel wrote on X shortly after his confirmation. “Thank you to President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi for your unwavering confidence and support.”

Mr. Patel has been a staunch ally of Mr. Trump and opposed the FBI’s investigations into the president, slamming them as politically motivated. During his confirmation hearing last month, he vowed not to engage in political retribution against agents who worked on Trump-related cases such as his handling of classified government documents and his actions contesting the 2020 election.

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Mr. Patel in a 51-49 vote largely along party lines. However, moderate Republicans Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine both voted “no.”

• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.