FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced Dec. 17 that he will resign in January, ending a short tenure as the agency’s second-highest-ranking official.
President Donald Trump had appointed Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and prominent conservative podcaster, in early 2025. Bongino took office in March.
Bongino confirmed his resignation in a post on X the evening of Dec. 17, thanking Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel for what he called the opportunity “to serve with purpose.”
Bongino did not share specific future plans or specify his departure date.
Trump hinted at the resignation earlier that afternoon, telling reporters Bongino “did a great job” and suggested he wanted to return to his podcasting career.
“I think he wants to go back to his show,” Trump said, according to FOX News.
Patel praised Bongino in an X post, saying he exceeded his mission.
Bondi also credited Bongino for his service, posting that Americans were safer because of his work.
Americans are safer because of @FBIDDBongino’s service. Thank you, Dan.
https://t.co/XIPveF920N
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) December 17, 2025
NBC reported in July that Bongino was considering resigning after a heated confrontation with Bondi over his frustration with the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Other outlets have speculated that Bongino will resume his media career in order to comment more freely on government matters, without institutional constraints.
Bongino’s resignation is considered one of the most prominent departures of Trump’s second administration, as it arrives amid broader upheaval at the FBI, including the firing of career agents and ongoing criticism of Patel.
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