Dan Bongino, Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the USA, announced on December 17, 2025, his decision to resign from that position. The news was communicated through a post on the social network X.
President Donald Trump confirmed Bongino’s departure plans on the same day. The announcement ends a brief and tumultuous period in the FBI’s second-in-command position.
His tenure, which began in March, 2025, was marked by controversies. Bongino’s appointment was considered unusual due to his lack of prior experience within the bureau.
Reasons for leaving the position
His resignation comes after months of speculation about his future at the agency. That uncertainty increased following a tense exchange in July, 2025 with Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The disagreement centered on the Justice Department’s decision not to disclose more records from the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. After that episode, Bongino stopped posting on his official accounts for several days.
Bongino faced criticism for trying to reconcile his current work with previous statements. As a commentator, he promoted theories about the Epstein case and the January 6th pipe bombs.
Once at the FBI, he stated that evidence showed Epstein died by suicide and endorsed the recent arrest for the explosives. This contradiction generated skepticism among part of the political base that supported him.
Bongino leaves his position as FBI deputy director
The resignation process became public on December 17, 2025. Bongino had informed colleagues more than a week earlier that he would not return to the headquarters in Washington this year.
Close sources indicated he was already vacating his office. When a media outlet contacted him to confirm the news, he responded with an evasive statement.
The resignation was formalized with a message on the social network X. In it, Bongino thanked President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel.
He stated he was grateful for the opportunity to serve with a purpose. Director Patel publicly praised him as «the best partner» to help restore the FBI. His departure occurs in a context of upheaval within the FBI’s leadership.
Context on the Departure Date
Bongino will effectively leave his post on January 2026. The announcement does not specify an exact day within that month. His tenure will have lasted approximately nine or ten months since his appointment on March, 2025. He thus becomes one of the first high-profile figures to leave the administration during President Trump’s second term.
Bongino’s departure from the FBI reflects the challenges of integrating external figures into traditionally technical leadership positions. His case illustrates the tension between prior political rhetoric and the responsibilities of an institutional role.
The episode leaves a significant vacancy in the federal bureau’s operational structure. This change occurs while the agency faces scrutiny for other decisions by its current leadership.
