Dan Bongino, the controversial Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has announced he will be stepping down from his role at the end of January 2026. Bongino made the revelation in a social media post on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, marking an end to a tenure that lasted less than a year.
A Sudden Exit and Public Thanks
In his announcement, Bongino did not provide a specific reason for his impending departure. Instead, he used the platform to extend his gratitude to President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel for the "opportunity to serve with purpose." He also thanked his fellow American citizens for the privilege of serving them.
However, President Trump offered a different perspective when speaking to reporters outside the White House. "I think he wants to go back to his show," Trump stated, alluding to Bongino's previous career as a popular conservative podcast host and media personality.
A Rocky Tenure Marked by Controversy
Bongino's exit does not come as a complete shock to observers. The former Secret Service agent had publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the role. In a May 2025 appearance on Fox News, he admitted, "People ask all the time, 'Do you like it?' No. I don't. But the president didn’t ask me to do this to like it."
His appointment itself was contentious due to his background as a prominent conspiracy theorist and election denier. Prior to joining the FBI, Bongino propagated numerous dubious claims, including suggesting that FBI footage of the January 6, 2021, pipe bomb suspect may have been manipulated.
His transition from commentator to investigator was awkwardly highlighted after the FBI arrested a suspect in that case who had no apparent connection to the agency. On Sean Hannity's show, Bongino conceded, "I was paid in the past for my opinions... But that’s not what I’m paid for now. I’m paid to be your deputy director, and we base investigations on facts."
Internal Friction and a New Co-Deputy
Reports also indicated friction between Bongino and Attorney General Pam Bondi. A July 2025 decision by the Department of Justice and the FBI to withhold additional records related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation reportedly sparked a heated exchange between the two officials.
The dynamics of the deputy director's office were already shifting before Bongino's announcement. In August 2025, Bondi and Director Patel announced that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey would be joining the FBI to serve as co-deputy director alongside Bongino, a move that signaled a significant restructuring of the bureau's leadership.
With his return to media widely anticipated, Bongino's brief and turbulent chapter at the top of the FBI concludes, leaving questions about the lasting impact of his appointment on the agency's internal culture and public perception.
