Dan Bongino has announced that he will step down from his role as deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in January, less than a year after being appointed to the position by President Donald Trump.
In a post on social media platform X, Bongino thanked President Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Attorney General Pam Bondi for what he called the “opportunity to serve with purpose.” He also expressed gratitude to the American public, saying it had been a privilege to serve the country.
President Trump confirmed Bongino’s departure earlier on Wednesday, saying the former podcast host “did a great job” at the FBI and now “wants to go back to his show.”
Bongino was appointed in February and was widely seen as an unconventional choice for the role. A former New York City police officer and US Secret Service agent who once helped protect President Barack Obama, Bongino had no prior experience working within the FBI. His appointment was opposed by the FBI Agents Association, which represents around 14,000 current and former agents, who argued the role should be held by a career agent.
In recent years, Bongino built a large conservative following through his podcast and media appearances and became a vocal ally of Trump. Before joining the FBI, he promoted claims and conspiracy theories related to the 2020 presidential election and the January 6 pipe bomb investigation, which he had previously described as an “inside job.”
After taking office, Bongino made the long-running pipe bomb investigation a priority, calling for renewed focus on the case. Earlier this month, nearly six years after the devices were discovered outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic parties, a suspect with no known government ties was arrested.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised Bongino’s tenure, saying he “served as the people’s voice for transparency” and helped deliver progress in long-unsolved cases. Attorney General Pam Bondi also commended his service, stating that “Americans are safer” because of his work at the FBI.
Bongino’s views also evolved on other high-profile cases during his time at the agency. After previously questioning the official account of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s death in prison in 2019, Bongino later said he had reviewed the full case file and concluded that Epstein took his own life. A joint memo released by the Justice Department and FBI in July supported that conclusion, though it sparked backlash from some of Trump’s supporters.
As Bongino prepares to leave public office and return to media, his tenure is likely to remain controversial, reflecting the broader political divisions that surrounded his appointment and leadership at the FBI.