Kash Patel has taken a significant step toward becoming the first Indian American to lead the FBI, as the US Senate narrowly approved a procedural vote to advance his nomination for a full confirmation.

The Senate voted 48-45 along party lines to begin the debate on Patel’s nomination, initiating a 30-hour discussion period before a final confirmation vote expected on Thursday.

Patel, 44, is one of the most controversial figures among President Donald Trump’s cabinet and administration nominees. Other high-profile appointees, including Director of National Intelligence, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have been confirmed through similar party-line votes, a trend likely to continue with Patel’s confirmation.

Republican senators who initially expressed opposition to some of these contentious nominees ultimately backed the president’s selections. However, Matt Gaetz, nominated for attorney general, was forced to withdraw after several Republican senators refused to support him due to allegations concerning inappropriate relationships with minors.

Patel, a former public defender, has rapidly risen in Washington’s political landscape. He previously served as chief of staff at the Department of Defense and deputy director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term. Now nominated to lead the FBI, Patel would head the very agency that investigated Trump for mishandling classified documents after leaving office in 2021 and for efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.