The Federal Bureau of Investigation, an institution long known for its adherence to tradition and a strict chain of command, is facing an unprecedented shakeup at its highest levels. On Monday, August 18, 2025, the Justice Department announced that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a staunch Trump ally and relatively recent arrival to the national political scene, would be appointed as co-deputy director of the FBI. Bailey will share the bureau’s No. 2 spot with conservative podcaster Dan Bongino, serving directly under FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
This announcement, reported by outlets including The Washington Post, CBS News, and NBC News, marks a dramatic departure from the FBI’s usual practice of filling its top operational post with seasoned career agents. The deputy director role, traditionally occupied by a respected veteran with deep experience in the bureau’s inner workings, is now to be shared by two figures with no prior FBI service. The move has left many observers—inside and outside the agency—scratching their heads and questioning the motives and implications of such an unorthodox decision.
Bailey, 44, is no stranger to rapid ascents. Hailing from Rhineland, Missouri, and a veteran of the U.S. Army, he was a political novice less than three years ago. His entry into public office came in late 2022, when then-Governor Mike Parson appointed him to replace outgoing Attorney General Eric Schmitt. Before that, Bailey had served as Parson’s general counsel and as the top lawyer for the Missouri Department of Corrections. He quickly made a name for himself, not just for his meteoric rise, but for his aggressive legal tactics and willingness to wade into hot-button national debates.
Bailey’s tenure as Missouri’s top prosecutor was marked by a series of high-profile lawsuits challenging the Biden administration on issues ranging from abortion medication access to the legality of student loan forgiveness. After Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Bailey doubled down on his support for the president’s agenda, redirecting his office’s firepower toward Trump’s political adversaries. In one headline-grabbing case, Bailey’s office sued Starbucks, alleging discrimination against white men in hiring practices. He also drew sharp criticism from criminal justice advocates for using his authority to contest innocence claims made by Missouri prisoners, including the cases of Sandra Hemme and Marcellus Williams, both of whom maintained their innocence in high-profile legal battles.
Despite the controversies, Bailey’s political fortunes soared. He secured a full four-year term as attorney general in 2024, winning nearly 60% of the vote against Democrat Elad Gross. His record—marked by combative litigation and a willingness to take on both the federal government and corporate giants—earned him a reputation as a rising star among Missouri Republicans, following in the footsteps of his predecessors Eric Schmitt and Josh Hawley, both of whom went on to the U.S. Senate.
Now, Bailey is poised to step onto the national stage in a role that, while powerful, is also shrouded in uncertainty. The position of co-deputy director itself is a novelty. As The New York Times noted, several current and former FBI agents expressed bewilderment, stating they had never heard of such a title. The job doesn’t require Senate confirmation, and it remains unclear how Bailey and Bongino—who has publicly complained about the toll the role has taken on him—will divide their responsibilities or even whether Bongino will remain in the post once Bailey arrives.
Bailey’s appointment is the latest in a series of unusual personnel moves at the FBI, as the Trump administration continues its efforts to reshape the agency’s leadership and culture. Director Kash Patel, himself a controversial figure with deep connections to Trump, now oversees a top team composed of political loyalists rather than career law enforcement professionals. Bongino, known primarily for his media presence and outspoken conservative commentary, and Bailey, with his aggressive legal background but no federal law enforcement experience, represent a sharp break from the bureau’s historical norm.
According to The Washington Post, "Bailey’s appointment is the latest unusual personnel move at the FBI as the Trump administration aims to dramatically reshape the bureau." The move has left many inside the agency wondering about the future direction of the FBI, especially as it faces a host of pressing challenges, from domestic extremism to cyber threats and ongoing concerns about political interference.
The transition also brings change back home in Missouri. On Tuesday, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that Catherine Hanaway, a former federal prosecutor and Missouri House speaker, would succeed Bailey as attorney general. Hanaway’s appointment is historic—she will be the first woman to hold the post, which is widely considered the state’s second most powerful office. Her selection was met with praise from some quarters, but also with questions about how she will navigate the legacy of her predecessor and the ongoing political battles in Jefferson City.
For Bailey, the move to Washington is both a personal and professional leap. He is set to resign his Missouri post effective September 8, 2025, paving the way for his new role. The lack of Senate confirmation means the transition can proceed quickly, but it also raises questions about accountability and oversight. Traditionally, the FBI’s second-in-command has been someone with the trust and respect of career agents, able to manage the day-to-day operations of an agency with nearly 37,000 employees and a sprawling national and international mandate.
Yet, as Semafor and CBS News both observed, there’s still no clarity on how the co-deputy arrangement will work in practice. Will Bailey and Bongino split operational duties, or will one take a more public-facing role while the other manages internal affairs? And with Bongino’s future at the bureau reportedly in doubt, could Bailey soon find himself as the sole deputy director?
The political ramifications are hard to ignore. Supporters of the Trump administration see the appointments as a necessary corrective to what they perceive as an FBI hostile to conservative interests. Critics, meanwhile, warn that the injection of political loyalists into the bureau’s top ranks threatens the independence and integrity of federal law enforcement. The appointment of Bailey, with his record of partisan litigation and willingness to challenge established norms, has only intensified the debate.
As the dust settles, the FBI finds itself at a crossroads. With Andrew Bailey and Dan Bongino now set to share the second-in-command role, the bureau’s leadership is entering uncharted territory. Whether this experiment in co-leadership will strengthen the agency or sow further discord remains to be seen. For now, all eyes are on Washington—and on a Missouri attorney general whose rapid rise shows no sign of slowing down.
