Dan Bongino has announced that he will step down as the FBI’s deputy director in January, ending a short but highly scrutinised tenure that drew both praise and controversy.
The former media personality confirmed his decision in a post on X, where he expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel for what he described as the chance to serve with purpose.
His departure follows comments from Trump earlier in the week, suggesting that Bongino was eager to return to broadcasting. The president said the former podcast host had performed well in government and wanted to resume his media career.
Bongino was appointed to the senior FBI role in February, a move that surprised many within law enforcement circles. Unlike most of his predecessors, he did not rise through the agency’s ranks. His background includes service as a New York City police officer and later as a US Secret Service agent, where he was part of the team assigned to protect then President Barack Obama. In recent years, however, Bongino became far better known for his political commentary, cultivating a large conservative audience through podcasts and television appearances.
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His appointment faced resistance from the FBI Agents Association, which represents thousands of current and retired agents and argued that the role should remain in the hands of career professionals. Before joining the bureau, Bongino had promoted conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 presidential election and questioned official accounts of the January 6 pipe bomb investigation, at one point suggesting it was an internal plot.
After assuming office, he shifted focus, making the stalled pipe bomb probe a priority. Earlier this month, authorities arrested a suspect with no apparent government ties, nearly six years after explosives were found near the headquarters of both major US political parties. FBI Director Patel credited Bongino with injecting urgency and transparency into long-running cases, saying his leadership produced significant breakthroughs.
Bongino’s stance also evolved on the death of financier Jeffrey Epstein. While he had previously expressed doubt about Epstein’s 2019 prison death, he later said he reviewed the full investigative file and accepted the conclusion that Epstein died by suicide. That finding was reaffirmed in a joint memo released in July by the FBI and Justice Department, which stated there was no evidence of a secret client list.
Attorney General Bondi said Bongino’s service strengthened public safety, closing a chapter that blended political influence, law enforcement authority, and unresolved public mistrust.