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FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is reportedly preparing to leave the Trump administration in the coming weeks, according to sources cited by The New York Times. Bongino has begun packing his personal items in Washington, D.C., and shipping them back to Florida. He plans to resume his career as a pro-Trump broadcaster as the midterm elections approach. Previously, Bongino had stepped away from a successful media career, which included podcasting and hosting on Fox News, to join the administration.
Bongino’s short stint in the administration has been characterized by his mixed feelings about the position and conflicts with colleagues, such as Attorney General Pam Bondi, particularly regarding her management of the Epstein files. His anticipated resignation coincides with the impending deadline for the release of these files on Friday. In May, Bongino openly shared that the job was putting a strain on his marriage to Paula, who resides in Florida with their two daughters. The couple has been married since around 2003.
On Fox & Friends, Bongino expressed the toll the role has taken on his personal life, stating, “I gave up everything for this. My wife is struggling.” He described feeling isolated in D.C., away from his family, and admitted that he did not enjoy his work, although he took pride in serving the president. “People ask me all the time, ‘Do you like it?’ I say, ‘No, I don’t,'” he revealed, adding that it was a difficult situation for his family but acknowledging that the president didn’t appoint him for enjoyment.
A major flashpoint came in July, when Bongino clashed with Bondi over the Justice Department’s conclusion that no Epstein ‘client list’ existed – contradicting years of theories that he had promoted on his show. Reports at the time described a tense stand-off where Bondi accused Bongino of leaking on her. He took days off work, considered resigning amid the furor and told allies that the AG had ‘overpromised and underdelivered.’
The controversy highlighted a tension between his past as a right-wing podcaster and now as a top law enforcement official. Following the January 6 pipe bomb arrest that the FBI announced earlier this month, Bongino revealed to Sean Hannity how the role had changed his interpretation of high-profile investigations. ‘I was paid in the past, Sean, for my opinions … 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,’ Bongino told the Fox anchor after being asked about a November 2024 episode where he claimed the pipe bomb was a set-up.
The FBI deputy chief had considered making his departure announcement at a press conference related to the pipe bomb arrest, according to the Times. The timing of his resignation remains fluid, however the decision to ship his belongings to Florida means that he is firmly committed to quitting, sources said. Bongino’s departure would heap more pressure on Kash Patel amid the mounting outrage over the Brown University shooting.
The FBI boss on Sunday prematurely announced that a suspect in the mass shooting had been arrested – only for him to be set free hours later. The manhunt entered its fifth day on Wednesday as Patel was slammed for the latest blunder, echoing the prior mishandling of the Charlie Kirk assassination investigation. The FBI declined to comment.
