Though highly controversial when nominated for his role by President Donald Trump and only confirmed by 51-49 votes, FBI Director Kash Patel has impressed in his first five weeks on the job.

Members of Congress from both parties have been heartened by Patel’s energetic response to their requests for FBI records. Patel has also appeared poised and well-briefed in his testimony on Capitol Hill. And at the FBI, even some skeptical agents and analysts I’ve spoken to have been pleasantly surprised by Patel’s early leadership. Patel has thus positively positioned himself apart from the furor over the inclusion of a journalist in classified conversations pertaining to recent strikes in Yemen.