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Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal
Dan Bongino
Photo: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Public domain

The Administration · Out the door

Dan Bongino

Former FBI Deputy Director Out the door

A former Secret Service agent and conservative broadcaster who served less than a year as FBI deputy director, a job traditionally held by a career agent, before returning to radio and podcasting.

Why they left: He announced on December 17, 2025 that he would step down in January; President Trump said Bongino wanted to return to his show, and CNN reported he had often clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi. 1 3 Now: He returned to broadcasting: he revived his online show and since August 24, 2026 has co-hosted The Bongino Report PM, a weekday afternoon program syndicated by Westwood One. 1 4

Biography

Dan Bongino was born in New York City on December 4, 1974 and raised in Queens. 1 He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology from Queens College and an M.B.A. from Penn State. 1 He was a New York City police officer from 1995 to 1999 and a Secret Service agent from 1999 to 2011, including service on the protective details of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. 1 2 He left the Secret Service to run for office and lost races for the U.S. Senate in Maryland in 2012 and for the U.S. House in 2014 and 2016. 1

He then built a large audience as a podcaster, radio host and Fox News personality, appearing on Fox from 2021 to 2023. 2 On his show he repeatedly described the FBI as part of a deep state, said the 2020 election was stolen, and after the 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago called for the bureau to be disbanded, according to an NBC News review of his broadcasts. 2 Trump announced him as deputy director in February 2025. The post needs no Senate vote and had typically gone to a career agent who runs daily operations. 2

Bongino took office on March 17, 2025. 1 In July 2025 CNN reported he was considering resigning over the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. 1 In August, former Missouri attorney general Andrew Bailey was brought in as co-deputy director, a move CBS News said was meant to ease reported tension between Bongino and Bondi; it was the first time the job had been split. 5 In December 2025 the FBI arrested a suspect in the January 2021 pipe bomb case, which Bondi credited to Patel and Bongino. 1

He announced his departure on December 17, 2025 and worked his last day on January 3, 2026. 1 3 Trump said he had done a great job and wanted to get back to his show. 3 Bongino has since returned to media, first online and then on Westwood One radio. 1 4

In the job

What happened while Dan held the post.

  1. Sworn in as deputy director by FBI Director Kash Patel. 1

  2. With Patel, said the bureau would put new resources into three cases: the January 2021 pipe bombs, the 2022 leak of the Supreme Court's Dobbs draft and cocaine found at the White House in 2023. 1

  3. CNN reported he was considering resigning over the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files. 1

  4. Andrew Bailey was sworn in as co-deputy director, splitting the job for the first time. 5 6

  5. The FBI arrested a suspect in the January 2021 Washington pipe bomb case. Attorney General Bondi credited Patel and Bongino; current and former officials disputed that the case had been neglected before them. 1

  6. Announced he would leave the FBI in January. 1 3

  7. Worked his final day. 3

Disputes, and their side

What critics, courts or investigators have said, and the answer given. An allegation is not a finding.

  1. NBC News documented that before his appointment Bongino had for years told his audience the FBI was colluding with a deep state, claimed the 2020 election was stolen and called for the bureau to be disbanded. Neither he nor Patel had worked at the FBI. 2

    Their side: No public response found.

  2. Before joining the FBI, Bongino had said on his podcast that the January 2021 pipe bombs were an inside job. As deputy director he oversaw the case that ended in the arrest of a suspect. 1

    Their side: No public response found.

Career

  1. New York City police officer
  2. U.S. Secret Service special agent, including the Presidential Protective Division
  3. Republican candidate for U.S. Senate (Maryland, 2012) and U.S. House (Maryland 2014, Florida 2016); lost all three
  4. Podcast and radio host of The Dan Bongino Show
  5. Fox News host
  6. Deputy director of the FBI
  7. Broadcaster; co-host of The Bongino Report PM on Westwood One since August 2026

Our reporting

We have not yet published a story that names Dan Bongino. When we do, it will appear here.

Sources for this file

  1. Wikipedia, Dan Bongino, Nov. 13, 2026
  2. NBC News, Dan Bongino's yearslong history of FBI criticism and conspiracy theories, Feb. 24, 2025
  3. UPI, Dan Bongino exits post as deputy director of the FBI, Jan. 4, 2026
  4. RadioInsight, Dan Bongino To Return To Westwood One Syndication, Aug. 17, 2026
  5. CBS News, Top FBI official Andrew Bailey, who was once widely seen as Patel successor, resigns, Sept. 28, 2026
  6. Wikipedia, Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oct. 11, 2026

File checked Nov. 13, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell the desk.