Dan Bongino Heading for the Exit After Shaking Up the FBI [WATCH]

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is preparing to leave his post, bringing an end to a brief but closely watched tenure inside one of the federal government’s most powerful law enforcement agencies.

Dan Bongino was rich, successful and powerful. Dan had the biggest show in America and ran a media empire.

When Trump asked, Dan left everything behind for a mission most people thought impossible: fixing the FBI.

It was one of the most selfless acts in modern political… pic.twitter.com/0xc0QN7KSy

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 17, 2025

President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that Bongino will be stepping down in the near future, signaling a voluntary departure after months of speculation surrounding his long-term role within the bureau.

“Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show,” President Trump told reporters, referencing Bongino’s prior career as a media personality.

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨

President Donald Trump says FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino wants to go back to podcasting. pic.twitter.com/P7RJnItf2e

— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) December 17, 2025

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Multiple sources familiar with the situation say Bongino is expected to exit in the coming weeks, with some indicating the move could occur early in the new year.

While reports circulated suggesting Bongino had already cleared out his office, one source disputed that account, noting it had been widely understood internally that his appointment was not intended to be permanent.

Bongino, 51, was appointed FBI deputy director earlier this year under FBI Director Kash Patel, making him one of the most unconventional figures to ever hold the position.

Historically, the role has been filled by career FBI agents who spend decades advancing through the bureau’s ranks.

Bongino’s path was markedly different, coming after years as a high-profile conservative commentator with a substantial national following.

Before his appointment, Bongino served as a New York City police officer and later as a U.S. Secret Service agent.

After leaving government service, he built a lucrative media career, hosting a nationally syndicated radio show and podcast while becoming a frequent presence on Fox News.

During that period, Bongino became one of President Trump’s most vocal defenders and a sharp critic of the FBI and the Department of Justice.

That transition from outspoken critic to senior leader inside the FBI was not without tension.

🚨 DAN BONGINO: “I gave up everything for this. My wife is struggling. I’m not a victim. It’s fine. I’m proud I did this. But if you think we’re there for tea and crumpets…we’re there all day.”

“I stare at these 4 walls all day separated from my wife in DC.”

PATRIOT. That was… pic.twitter.com/moEYDnHJ8J

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 17, 2025

According to sources familiar with internal discussions, Bongino clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the handling of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Bondi ultimately issued a memo concluding that no additional disclosures were warranted and that the available records did not support investigations into uncharged individuals.

Bongino, who had previously pushed publicly for greater transparency surrounding the Epstein case, was said to be deeply frustrated by the decision and at one point considered leaving the position.

In particular, he acknowledged that the bureau’s records supported the conclusion that Epstein died by suicide in 2019, reversing earlier skepticism that had resonated with many on the right.

“The evidence we have in our files clearly indicates that it was, in fact, a suicide,” Bongino said during a television interview this summer.

Bongino also addressed the long-running investigation into pipe bombs placed near the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee ahead of January 6, 2021.

After a suspect was arrested and charged earlier this month, Bongino stressed the importance of grounding law enforcement decisions in evidence rather than commentary.

“I was paid in the past for my opinions,” Bongino said during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.

“I’m paid to be your deputy director, and we base investigations on facts.”

Sources inside the bureau say Bongino also grew frustrated with the intensity of the role and the strain it placed on his personal life.

In recent weeks, there were signs that his responsibilities were being reduced, with co-deputy director Andrew Bailey increasingly assuming day-to-day operational duties.

Bailey, a former Missouri attorney general, is expected to take over full responsibility for the deputy director position once Bongino officially departs.

President Trump expressed continued confidence in the leadership of the FBI and offered positive remarks about Bongino’s service, making clear that the decision was not the result of a breakdown in their relationship.

For Bongino, the move appears to close a short chapter in federal law enforcement and potentially reopen the door to the media career that made him a prominent figure among conservative audiences nationwide.