Dan Bongino Concludes Service as FBI Deputy Director
Former New York City police officer and conservative commentator Dan Bongino officially concluded his service as Deputy Director of the FBI on Sunday, after a brief but impactful tenure. Bongino, known for his strong conservative voice, announced his departure last month.
In a final social media message, Bongino reflected on his year working under Director Kash Patel and alongside President Trump, stating it was “the honor of a lifetime” to serve the American people.
Bongino joined the FBI as Deputy Director in March, partnering with Patel to implement reforms aimed at refocusing the bureau’s efforts on combating violent crime. A key part of their strategy involved redirecting agents from administrative roles in Washington, D.C., to field offices across the country, where they could directly address rising crime rates.
Beyond law enforcement, Patel and Bongino prioritized restoring public trust in the FBI, which had been damaged by concerns over political bias. They pledged to ensure transparency and accountability in all bureau operations, working to counteract what they saw as the “political weaponization” of law enforcement and intelligence.
In July, Bongino alluded to unsettling discoveries made during the investigations, stating that he had learned things that “shocked me to my core” and that the nation could not function as a republic with the knowledge he obtained. He emphasized the FBI’s commitment to conducting thorough, lawful investigations to uncover answers the American people deserved.
Bongino highlighted the FBI’s accomplishments in 2025. Under Patel’s leadership, the bureau made approximately 50,000 arrests, with 30,000 arrests for violent crimes, doubling the total from 2024. The FBI also disrupted 1,800 gangs and criminal organizations, seized over 2,000 kilograms of fentanyl, and located over 6,000 child victims of trafficking.
Patel praised Bongino for his role in “restoring” the FBI, adding that he brought critical reforms to make the organization more efficient and delivered major breakthroughs in long unsolved cases. He further stated that Bongino served as the people’s voice for transparency.
President Trump also acknowledged Bongino’s service. He stated Bongino had done a “great job” during his service at the agency.
Bongino’s replacement as co-deputy director will be Andrew Bailey, who was appointed to the role last September.
