FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino officially announced on Wednesday that he will leave his position in January. “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,” Bongino said. “Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you. God bless America, and all those who defend Her,” he added. 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 Fox News has more: President Donald Trump hinted at the news on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews earlier in the afternoon, saying, “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show.” Bongino, a former Secret Service agent, had no FBI experience before Trump tapped him to serve in the No. 2 position there. Prior to Bongino, the role had for more than a century been filled by someone who worked at the bureau, according to the FBI Agents Association. The position does not require Senate confirmation. It is not immediately clear who will take Bongino’s place. Watch Trump’s comments: Welp that confirms it. Dan Bongino is leaving the FBI sooner rather than later.pic.twitter.com/aBXtkjDMv2 — C3 (@C_3C_3) December 17, 2025 NBC News shared further: NBC News previously reported that Bongino considered resigning in July after the FBI and Justice Department issued a joint memo saying they had completed an “exhaustive” review of investigative files relating to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and that no other people would be charged in the case and the agencies would not be releasing any more information. Sources told NBC News at the time that Bongino got into a heated argument with Attorney General Pam Bondi after the release of the memo, which had sparked outrage from some Trump supporters. Before joining the administration, Bongino hosted a podcast where he alleged there had been a massive coverup involving the Epstein files. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche pushed back on reports at the time that Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel had been upset about the memo, writing in a post on X, “All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo. The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo’s composition and release is patently false.” Bongino did not return to work for at least one day after the argument with Bondi, but ultimately stayed.