Support for FBI Director Kash Patel has slipped among Republicans, according to Quinnipiac University polling released this week.

A new poll finds 67 percent of Republicans approve of Patel’s handling of the FBI, while 18 percent disapprove—marking a notable change from September 2025, when approval stood at 70 percent and disapproval at just 10 percent.

Newsweek contacted the FBI for comment on Thursday morning.

Republican support for Patel has softened since last fall, with the overall decline in his standing largely reflecting a buildup in disapproval rather than a sharp drop in core backing.

The chart above illustrates how that shift has played out over time.

Approval has edged down only slightly, but disapproval has risen more quickly, narrowing Patel’s advantage and pushing his net rating down by 11 points.

That change leaves Patel with a weaker cushion among Republican voters than he had just months ago, even as a clear majority continues to approve of his performance.

Early movement within Republican ranks can be an important signal in political polling, especially for figures whose support has typically been stable.

It also brings Patel closer to the approval levels of other administration officials, among whom he now ranks lower.

Polling on Patel is relatively rare, making shifts like this more significant when they do appear.