Dan Bongino is leaving his post at the FBI at the end of January, he announced on social media on Wednesday. The FBI deputy director didn’t offer a specific reason for leaving after less than a year in the job, instead preferring to thank President Donald Trump , Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel “for the opportunity to serve with purpose,” as well as his fellow American citizens “ for the privilege to serve you.” However, Trump told reporters he thought the former podcast host was missing his media platform. “I think he wants to go back to his show,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. 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 Bongino’s departure isn’t exactly a surprise. He even admitted on Fox News back in May that he wasn’t really happy in the position . “People ask all the time, ‘Do you like it?’ No. I don’t,” he said. “But the president didn’t ask me to do this to like it — nobody likes going into an organisation like that and having to make big changes.” Before he was appointed to the FBI, Bongino was a known conspiracy theorist and election denier who made all sorts of dubious claims, including that footage released by the FBI showing the January 6, 2021, pipe bomb suspect may have been manipulated . However, after the FBI arrested a suspect who appeared to have no connection with the agency , Bongino made an awkward admission to Sean Hannity. “Listen, I was paid in the past, Sean, for my opinions, that’s clear, and one day, I’ll be back in that space,” Bongino said. “But that’s not what I’m paid for now. I’m paid to be your deputy director, and we base investigations on facts.” Bongino also seemed to clash with Bondi. A decision by the Department of Justice and the FBI in July to withhold additional records from the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation reportedly sparked a heated conversation between the two. A month later, Bondi and Patel announced that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey would be joining the FBI to serve as co-deputy director with Bongino.