FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced on December 17 that he will step down from the bureau in January, bringing an end to a turbulent tenure that lasted less than a year. His departure follows weeks of reports about internal friction within the Justice Department, particularly disagreements with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the handling of investigative files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to MS NOW, Bongino had been privately telling associates that he planned to leave early next year and had begun clearing out his office, a claim later cited by USA Today. President Donald Trump appeared to confirm Bongino’s impending exit before it was formally announced, signaling that the move was expected inside the administration.
After news of his departure became public, Bongino issued a statement on X thanking Trump, Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve. “Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you,” he wrote, framing his exit as a personal decision rather than a forced removal.
Trump also offered praise when asked about Bongino by reporters on December 17. “Dan did a great job,” the president said, adding that Bongino wanted to return to his media career. Before joining the FBI, Bongino rose to national prominence as the host of The Dan Bongino Show, becoming one of the most influential voices within the Make America Great Again movement.
Since March, Bongino played a key role in overseeing a major restructuring of federal law enforcement under Trump-appointed leadership. Following the installation of Kash Patel as FBI director, Bongino helped lead efforts that resulted in the removal of several senior bureau officials, including a former acting FBI director and others accused by the administration of politicizing the agency. His exit now marks a significant leadership change as the FBI continues its transformation under the Trump administration.