Dan Bongino will leave his leadership post at the FBI in January, ending a brief but high-profile stint as deputy director in President Donald Trump’s law‑enforcement team. His exit follows months of speculation about internal friction and his future in the administration.

On Wednesday evening, Dan Bongino announced via an X post that he plans to resign from the FBI come January. He expressed gratitude to “President Trump, AG Bondi, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose,” and noted it was a “privilege to serve” the American people, concluding with a patriotic, “God bless America, and all those who defend Her.”

Speculation about Bongino’s departure intensified throughout the day, with insiders informing the New York Post of his impending resignation. President Trump confirmed Bongino’s exit, remarking, “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show,” after Bongino took on his role in the administration this past March.

Short tenure and internal tensions

According to the New York Post, Bongino has already cleared out his office and is expected to complete roughly a year of service under FBI Director Kash Patel. While he has not disclosed his future plans, sources speculate that he might return to his previous career as a political commentator.

During his brief stint, Bongino was involved in a contentious July confrontation with Attorney General Pam Bondi at the White House concerning her handling of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein. Bondi initially asserted in a memo that “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted,” and later claimed she found no “evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.” Before joining the government, Bongino advocated theories suggesting Epstein’s death was murder, but he eventually accepted the official ruling of suicide.

Successor and FBI implications

Another source revealed to the Post that Andrew Bailey, who became co-deputy director in September, is set to assume the full responsibilities of the deputy director role. Bailey, previously Missouri’s attorney general, played a key role in a failed Supreme Court case challenging federal interventions on social media companies regarding supposed “disinformation,” a case that aimed to secure a significant First Amendment ruling.

FBI deputy directors oversee day‑to‑day bureau operations, a role that carries significant influence in many administrations. The bureau did not respond to the Post’s request for comment on Bongino’s resignation or the leadership transition.