In a move that could rank among the most visible exits of the Trump administration, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced on Wednesday that he will step down from the bureau next month.
A Brief, Turbulent Tenure
Bongino’s time in the role, which began in March, was marked by clashes with the Justice Department over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and a struggle to reconcile his law-enforcement duties with the provocative claims he made as a popular podcast host. The announcement comes as the FBI faces a wave of upheaval, including the firing of career agents and criticism of Director Kash Patel for using a government plane for personal travel and for social-media posts about active investigations.
The Resignation Announcement
Bongino posted a short message on X, thanking the bureau for the “opportunity to serve with purpose.” He did not disclose the exact day in January when he would leave or outline his future plans. President Donald Trump, in a brief response earlier that day, said, “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show.”
Patel, meanwhile, praised the former deputy director in a separate post. He called Bongino “the best partner I could’ve asked for in helping restore this FBI” and added that Bongino “had not only completed his mission – he far exceeded it.” Patel concluded, “We will miss him but I’m thankful he accepted the call to serve. Our country is better and safer for it.”
An Unconventional Pick
Bongino was an unconventional choice for the No. 2 job at the FBI. Historically, the position has been filled by career agents, but both he and Patel had no prior FBI experience. Bongino had worked as a New York City police officer and a Secret Service agent, while Patel had served as a Missouri Attorney General. They entered the bureau pledging to overhaul an agency they claimed had been weaponized against President Trump.
From Podcast Host to Deputy Director
Trump appointed Bongino in March after years of conservative commentary. On his platform, he repeatedly criticized FBI leadership and promoted conspiracy theories surrounding the Epstein sex-trafficking case and the pipe bombs found in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Once in the role, he used social media to address Trump supporters who felt the new leadership was not acting swiftly enough on issues such as the pipe-bomb case, the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion in 2022, and the discovery of cocaine in the White House during the Biden administration.
Epstein, Pipe Bombs, and Public Statements
Bongino had challenged the official ruling that Epstein had taken his own life in a New York jail after his 2019 arrest. After assuming his FBI duties, he told Fox News, “I’ve seen the whole file. He killed himself.” He also speculated that the pipe bombs placed on the eve of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot were either an “inside job” or the work of a “connected anti-Trump insider,” claiming a “massive cover-up” shielded the truth. Those comments resurfaced when the FBI arrested a 30-year-old Virginia man with no evident connection to the federal government, sparking doubt that the right person had been apprehended.
In a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity, Bongino said, “I was paid in the past, Sean, for my opinions, that’s clear.” He added, “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.”
Growing Uncertainty
Questions about Bongino’s future had lingered for months, especially after a tense exchange at the White House in July with Attorney General Pam Bondi. That confrontation followed the FBI and DOJ’s abrupt announcement that they would not release any additional records from the Epstein investigation. After the meeting, Bongino, who is usually active on social media, went silent from his FBI account for several days. Far-right activist Laura Loomer posted on X that Bongino was “seriously thinking about resigning” and had taken the day off to contemplate his future.
In August, the Trump administration added a co-deputy director, former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a move that underscored the instability within the bureau.
Tributes and Final Words
Attorney General Bondi joined in the tributes, posting on X that Americans were safer because of Bongino’s service. She wrote, “Thank you, Dan.”
Bongino’s resignation will be one of the most high-profile departures in the Trump administration, occurring amid a broader crisis of confidence in the FBI’s leadership and operations.
Key Takeaways
- Dan Bongino, FBI Deputy Director, will resign next month, a move seen as a major Trump-era exit.
- His brief tenure was marred by clashes over the Epstein files and public statements about pipe bombs and other investigations.
- President Trump, Director Kash Patel, and Attorney General Pam Bondi all praised Bongino’s service before his departure.
The bureau’s leadership changes underscore a period of significant upheaval and raise questions about the future direction of the FBI’s investigations and internal reforms.
