Bongino announced his departure, which had been expected, in a post on X in which he said he was grateful for the “opportunity to serve with purpose.” He did not say precisely when in January he would leave or reveal his future plans, but President Donald Trump, in response to a question earlier in the day about Bongino's fate, said: “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show.”
In a social media post, Patel called Bongino “the best partner I could've asked for in helping restore this FBI.” He said Bongino “had not only completed his mission — he far exceeded it. We will miss him but I'm thankful he accepted the call to serve. Our country is better and safer for it.”
Bongino was always an unconventional pick for the No. 2 job at the FBI, a position that historically has entailed oversight of the bureau’s day-to-day operations and has been typically held by a career agent. Though he had previously worked as a New York City police officer and Secret Service agent, neither he nor Patel had any experience at the FBI before being picked for their jobs. But both came in pledging overhauls to an FBI they insisted had been weaponized against Trump.
Questions about Bongino's future had lingered for months, particular after a tense exchange at the White House last July with Attorney General Pam Bondi following an abrupt announcement by the FBI and Justice Department that they would not be releasing any additional records from the Epstein investigation.
After that encounter, Bongino, normally active on social media, went silent from his FBI account for several days. Conservative activist Laura Loomer, who is close to Trump, posted on X at the time that she was told that Bongino was “seriously thinking about resigning” and had taken the day off to contemplate his future.
In August, the Trump administration took the unusual step of adding a co-deputy director, former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.
Bondi on Wednesday joined in the tributes, posting on X that Americans were safer because of Bongino's service. “Thank you, Dan," she wrote.
