The only man to lead both the FBI and CIA urged caution among senators who could vote to confirm former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence and Kash Patel as head of the FBI, a letter said , which was sent to senators this week.

“I am deeply concerned about the possible nomination of Mr. Kash Patel to head the FBI and the addition of former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to intelligence roles as DNI,” said William Webster, who headed the FBI during the Carter and Reagan administrations and the CIA afterward This is what it said in a letter to senators on Thursday.

Webster wrote that Patel’s loyalty to Trump could cause problems.

“Statements like ‘He’s my secret agent’ and his record in carrying out the president’s orders suggest a loyalty to individuals rather than the rule of law – a dangerous precedent for an agency charged with impartially enforcing justice,” said Webster, who turns 101 in March.

He said that during his tenure at the FBI he was contacted by the president only twice – once by President Jimmy Carter, who asked him to investigate a problem, and once when President Ronald Reagan had a question about Nancy Reagan’s safety.

Webster added that Gabbard’s “significant lack of intelligence experience and the daunting task of overseeing 18 different intelligence agencies further underscore the need for experienced leadership.”

“History has shown us the dangers of jeopardizing this independence. When the leaders of these organizations align themselves too closely with political figures, public trust erodes and our nation’s security is jeopardized,” he wrote. “Every president deserves appointees they trust, but the selection process must prioritize competence and independence to uphold the rule of law.”

The letter was first reported by Politico.

Webster supported Vice President Kamala Harris for president in 2024 and Joe Biden for president in 2020.

The Trump transition team defended both Patel and Gabbard to Fox News.

“Kash Patel is loyal to the Constitution. He served in key national security roles under Presidents Obama and Trump,” said Alex Pfeiffer, spokesman for the Trump transition team.

Alexa Henning, a Trump transition official, also defended Gabbard.

“Lt. Col. Gabbard is an active member of the Army and has served in the military and in Congress for over two decades. As someone who has dealt with intelligence at the highest levels, including during war, she recognizes the importance of partnering with allies to ensure close coordination to keep the American people safe, she told Fox News .