--- title: "FBI Now Allowing History of Bestiality Among New Recruits" description: "The FBI is opening the doors for even more highly questionable hirings under Kash Patel's leadership, including engaging in bestiality." date: "2026-08-31" modified: "2026-08-31" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/future-society/fbi-bestiality-new-recruits" categories: - "Biology" - "Brain" - "Cybersecurity" - "Future Society" - "Health & Medicine" - "Mental Health" - "Science & Energy" --- # FBI Now Allowing History of Bestiality Among New Recruits ![Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel speaks at a news conference.]() *Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images* The Federal Bureau of Investigation looks almost unrecognizable under director Kash Patel's leadership. The agency's head has been embroiled in a seemingly endless list of controversies, from [allegations of excessive drinking]() to [buying up location data]() on everyday American citizens to [furthering of harebrained conspiracies](). Patel lacked virtually any degree of relevant working experience for the job before the Senate confirmed him — and now, the agency is opening the doors for even more highly questionable hirings. As [inside sources told *CBS News*](), the FBI has quietly lowered standards of its background checks for potential federal agents and other personnel. The bureau is now officially looking the other way when it comes to prostitution, for instance — as long as recruits didn't hire sex workers over three times. Even more eyebrow-raising is that the FBI is even allowing the consideration of candidates who engaged in bestiality or animal cruelty, according to *CBS*' sources. However, any such incidents would've had to have taken place before the candidate turned 18. The broadcaster's sources also said there was no distinction between candidates who were forced into sexual activity with animals or if they did so willingly. An FBI spokesperson claimed that eligibility requirements were limited to a "narrow set of circumstances, such as in cases where a person was sexually abused with animals as a child." Experts, however, were appalled at the news, arguing that the FBI is undermining its responsibility in vetting applicants by changing background check standards. "Bestiality is clearly a potential indication of a more serious emotional issue, and even in a circumstance where it is not, the pool of candidates should be extensive enough that the criteria should certainly not be eliminated," former FBI agent James Davidson told *CBS*. Before the changes, which were reportedly implemented earlier this summer, the FBI's webpage was clear about automatically disqualifying special agents who engaged in "prostitution or bestiality." Both current and former FBI employees told the CBS that the bureau could now be hiring "people with questionable backgrounds," allowing them to undermine the integrity of the service. Others warned that the news was evidence of a major "recruiting problem." Considering the fact that the agency is being helmed by a personality as controversial as Patel, these changes shouldn't come as too much of a shock. While he hasn't personally acknowledged the latest changes, Patel has frequently called for new hiring standards at the bureau, arguing that "we are losing too many qualified candidates to the rigors of the requirements from yesteryear" in a [July interview]() with former FBI agent John Nantz. Patel's motivation for lowering standards could be to bring in his closest associates. As [*ProPublica* reported in November](), his personal assistant didn't clear their polygraph test and required a waiver, claims the FBI has since denied. **More on Patel:** [*The Head of the FBI Just Admitted Something Moderately Horrifying*]() ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()