Dan Bongino, the former Secret Service agent and conservative podcaster who took the unusual leap to become the FBI’s No. 2 official under President Donald Trump, announced on December 17, 2025, that he will step down as deputy director in January 2026. The news, delivered in a post on X, capped a turbulent tenure marked by high-profile investigations, internal clashes, and the ongoing tension between Bongino’s past as a provocateur and his responsibilities inside the nation’s top law enforcement agency.
"I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January," Bongino wrote on X. "I want to thank President Trump, AG Bondi, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose. Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you. God bless America, and all those who defend Her."
The announcement was not entirely unexpected. Speculation about Bongino’s future had swirled for months, especially after a heated July 2025 dispute with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Justice Department’s decision not to disclose additional records from its investigations into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. According to NBC News, Bongino reportedly considered resigning after the controversy, even taking a day off to reflect on his next steps. Far-right activist Laura Loomer, close to Trump, posted on X at the time that Bongino was “seriously thinking about resigning.”
President Trump, speaking to reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, praised Bongino’s service: "Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show," referencing the podcast that made Bongino a household name in conservative circles. Trump’s comments echoed the sentiment that Bongino’s heart might never have left the media world he once dominated.
Bongino’s appointment as deputy director in February 2025 was unconventional, to say the least. Traditionally, the post has gone to career FBI agents, but Bongino brought a resume that included stints as a New York City police officer and Secret Service agent—yet no FBI experience. According to the FBI Agents Association, it was the first time in over a century that the deputy director role was filled by an outsider. The position, notably, does not require Senate confirmation.
Upon his arrival, Bongino wasted no time signaling a new direction. He pledged to overhaul what he and Director Kash Patel described as an FBI “weaponized” against Trump and his supporters. Patel, in his own tribute on X, called Bongino “the best partner I could’ve asked for in helping restore this FBI,” adding, “He not only completed his mission — he far exceeded it. We will miss him but I’m thankful he accepted the call to serve. Our country is better and safer for it.”
Bongino’s tenure, however, was not without controversy. Before joining the administration, he used his podcast to rail against the FBI and promote conspiracy theories, especially surrounding the Epstein case and the pipe bombs discovered near the Democratic and Republican national committees’ headquarters on January 6, 2021. On his show in 2023, he urged listeners, "That Jeffrey Epstein story is a big deal ... Please do not let the story go," blaming the "Washington swamp who are not telling you the truth," as reported by ABC News.
Once in office, Bongino found himself at the center of the very cases he had once critiqued from afar. He was instrumental in reopening the investigation into the January 6 pipe bomb case, which had languished for four years. Attorney General Bondi credited him for assembling a new team that finally identified and brought charges against a suspect, Brian Cole Jr. "This case languished. It sat there for four years, collecting dust. No one did anything to solve this, and right when Kash Patel and Dan Bongino came in, Dan said to me, Dan said to all of us, ‘I’m going to solve this case,’” Bondi told Fox News. She called it "great police work." Cole has pleaded not guilty.
Bongino himself reflected on the case, telling Fox News, “You’re not going to walk into our capital city, put down two explosive devices and walk off in the sunset. Not going to happen — we were going to track this person to the end of the Earth. There was no way he was getting away.”
Yet Bongino’s transition from commentator to lawman was not always smooth. On his podcast in 2024, he had speculated that the pipe bomb incident was an “inside job” meant to stop Trump, saying, “This was a setup. I have zero doubt.” But more recently, in an interview with Sean Hannity, he distanced himself from those remarks, saying, “Listen, I was paid in the past, Sean, for my opinions. And one day, I’ll be back in that space. But that’s not what I’m paid for now. I’m paid to be your deputy director, and we base investigations on facts.”
Even on the Epstein case, Bongino’s public stance shifted after he gained access to the full investigative files. Having previously challenged the official suicide ruling, he told Fox News, “I’ve seen the whole file. He killed himself.” This pivot, while earning him some praise for professionalism, also frustrated elements of Trump’s base who had expected him to expose hidden truths and quickly reform the bureau.
Inside the FBI, Bongino was seen by some as relentless, particularly on the pipe bomb case. He confirmed to Sean Hannity, “My first meeting, I said when I get in there, 'I want a full brief on this pipe bomber case on day one.'”
Questions about Bongino’s future intensified after the July standoff with Bondi. According to NBC News, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche pushed back against rumors of discord, stating on X, “All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo. The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo’s composition and release is patently false.”
In August 2025, the Trump administration appointed Andrew Bailey, the former Missouri attorney general, as co-deputy director—a move seen by many as an effort to stabilize the bureau’s leadership. Fox News confirmed that Bailey, who has been on the job since September, will remain in the deputy role reporting to Patel.
As Bongino prepares to exit, tributes have poured in from allies. Bondi wrote on X, “Americans are safer because of Bongino's service. Thank you, Dan.”
Bongino’s departure marks the end of a chapter that was as dramatic as it was brief. Whether he returns to the media world or pursues another path, his time at the FBI will be remembered for its blend of controversy, high-stakes investigations, and the ongoing struggle to reconcile political expectations with the realities of federal law enforcement.
With Andrew Bailey set to continue as co-deputy director, the FBI’s leadership enters yet another period of transition—one that will be watched closely by supporters and critics alike.
