Dan Bongino has left his role as an FBI deputy director and returned to private life after serving less than a year. He announced on X that Saturday was his last day and thanked President Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity. Bongino had announced his intention to depart in mid-December and has spoken publicly about the personal toll the job took. His exit leaves Andrew Bailey as the bureau’s remaining deputy director.
Dan Bongino Leaves FBI Deputy Director Post After Less Than a Year, Returns to Private Life
Dan Bongino speaks with FBI Director Kash Patel as they attend the annual 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City on Sept. 11, 2025.
Dan Bongino returned to private life on Sunday after serving less than a year as a deputy director at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In a post on X, Bongino said Saturday was his final day and thanked President Donald Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity. "It’s been an incredible year thanks to the leadership and decisiveness of President Trump. It was the honor of a lifetime to work with Director Patel, and to serve you, the American people. See you on the other side," he wrote.
"After his swearing-in ceremony as FBI Deputy Director, Dan Bongino paid his respects at the Wall of Honor, honoring the brave members of the #FBI who made the ultimate sacrifice and reflecting on the legacy of those who paved the way in the pursuit of justice and security," the FBI said in a post on X.
Timeline And Reaction
Bongino assumed the deputy director role in March and announced in mid-December that he planned to step down at the start of the new year. President Trump publicly praised his work, telling reporters, "Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show."
Personal Toll
Speaking in May on Fox & Friends, Bongino described the personal cost of taking the bureau post, citing long hours and time away from family. He said the role required significant sacrifice, including an extended separation from his wife: "I stare at these four walls all day in D.C., by myself, divorced from my wife — not divorced, but I mean separated — and it’s hard. I mean, we love each other, and it’s hard to be apart."
Bureau Leadership
With Bongino's exit, Andrew Bailey — who was appointed co-deputy director in September 2025 — remains the bureau’s other deputy director. The FBI has not announced a replacement for Bongino as of this report.
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