Dan Bongino has stepped down from his role as FBI Deputy Director after serving less than a year in the position, marking an unusually brief tenure at the bureau. He had announced his decision in December, saying he intended to leave government service and return to civilian life.
His short stint was marked by heavy criticism about his lack of prior FBI experience and concerns about politicisation within the agency, issues that drew scrutiny from lawmakers and career officials alike.
Taking to X, Bongino shared a post highlighting his experience and showering praise on FBI Director Kash Patel.
“It was a busy last day on the job. This will be my last post on this account…Tomorrow I return to civilian life. It’s been an incredible year thanks to the leadership and decisiveness of President Trump. It was the honour of a lifetime to work with Director Patel, and to serve you, the American people. See you on the other side,” Bongino wrote on X.
Patel thanks Bongino
Patel praised Bongino in an X post, highlighting how he helped “orchestrate a record year” for the FBI by disrupting 1,800 gangs and criminal enterprises, locating thousands of child victims, seizing 2,000+ kilos of Fentanyl and more.
“FBI is saving lives, protecting innocent kids, and taking deadly drugs off our streets at levels not seen in decades. None of it would’ve been possible without Dan’s leadership and support. And he paved the way for even better things to come,” Patel wrote, thanking Bongino.
Who is Don Bongino and why did he quit?
Bongino is a former Secret Service agent who had no FBI experience before Trump tapped him to serve in the No. 2 position. The role had, for more than a century before Bongino, been filled by someone who worked at the bureau, according to the FBI Agents Association.
Media reports and accounts citing current and former officials described frustration among career agents over Patel and Bongino’s management style, decision-making and public messaging, with some questioning their understanding of the bureau’s culture and operational norms. The criticism was amplified by public scrutiny from lawmakers and commentators, contributing to perceptions of turbulence and dissatisfaction inside the FBI during their time in leadership roles.
In an earlier interview with Fox News, Bongino had revealed that the job had taken a massive toll on his personal life. “I gave up everything for this,” he said, citing the long hours he and Patel have to work.
“I stare at these four walls all day in DC, 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,” he added.
With Bongino’s departure, Andrew Bailey, who was appointed co-deputy director in September 2025, becomes the bureau’s other deputy director.