Top Republican senators call for reform, ‘consequences’ after ‘failure of leadership’ in law enforcement

Top Republican senators on Sunday criticized recent law enforcement failures by the FBI and other groups, calling on President-elect Trump’s administration to implement reforms.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Americans have lost confidence in the FBI. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican, also told “Fox News Sunday” that there should be “consequences” for law enforcement agencies that allow incidents like last week’s terrorist attack in New Orleans.

“The FBI is an agency that I think needs reform, and it needs a good makeover, so to speak, and perhaps a significant amount of cleaning when it comes to the perception of the American people about it and these institutions that the American the people must have confidence and trust,” Tun said on Sunday.

He added that Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Cash Patel, “understands the mission.”

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune says the FBI needs reform. (Reuters)

Meanwhile, Cassidy reacted to news that New Orleans police had access to 48 barriers that could have prevented last week’s deadly truck attack. Permanent barriers that block the access of cars Bourbon Street were replaced at the time of the attack, but authorities in the city were able to deploy barriers made of archers, which are designed to stop a 5,500-pound vehicle traveling at 60 miles per hour.

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“There should be leadership at the top. And if leadership has failed as you describe it, then there must be consequences. And the point. End of story,” Cassidy said.

“Now, I think we’re going to have kind of a complete overview of everything from top to bottom. And if that’s how it ends up shaking out completely, she needs to be replaced,” he added, referring to New Orleans Police Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., is calling for a review of law enforcement’s handling of the New Orleans truck attack. (Kevin Deitch/Getty Images)

Statements from Thune and Cassidy came a few days later Trump’s allies lashed out at the FBI for its initial characterization of the truck attack as not related to terrorism, before the nation’s top federal law enforcement agency backtracked and launched an investigation into terrorism allegedly linked to ISIS.

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“The FBI’s mission is unerring. There is no room for error. When they fail, Americans die. Cash Patel needs to be confirmed as soon as possible,” a source close to Trump told Fox News Digital on Thursday morning.

Military personnel walk down Bourbon Street on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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Patel is one of many new Trump cabinet nominees who will need to be confirmed by the Senate after Trump’s inauguration later this month.

Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.