FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced on Wednesday that he will step down from his position next month, ending a high-profile tenure at the Bureau that began earlier this year.
In a statement posted on X, Bongino expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the country but didn’t offer many further details about his decision to step down.
I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January.
I want to thank President Trump, AG Bondi, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose.
Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you.
God bless America, and…— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) December 17, 2025
President Donald Trump praised Bongino’s service in comments he made to reporters shortly before the announcement became public. “Dan did a great job,” Trump said, per AP News. “I think he wants to go back to his show.”
Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and longtime conservative commentator, was recruited by Trump to serve as deputy director following the 2024 election. Some supporters at the time viewed Bongino’s appointment as a step toward restoring trust in the FBI. They based this on his outspoken criticism of previous Bureau leaders and his indications of potential changes within the organization.
During his time at the FBI, Bongino was credited with supporting programs and initiatives aimed at fighting waves of violent crime, and his efforts to combat child exploitation and abuse networks across the country. The Bureau, led by Director Kash Patel, conducted major crime-fighting operations that targeted gangs, the drug trade, and online predator groups, which contributed to reported declines in various crime categories during Bongino’s tenure.
The FBI’s latest preliminary data shows estimated year-over-year declines in violent crime from September 2024 to August 2025, including an 8.8% drop in murders, 18.1% in rapes, 5.8% in robberies, and 16.4% in aggravated assaults.
The FBI has not yet announced a successor to the Deputy Director position.
