- President Donald Trump appointed Dan Bongino, a conservative commentator and former Secret Service agent, as FBI Deputy Director, serving under Director Kash Patel. Bongino’s lack of FBI experience raises concerns about agency independence and politicization.
- Bongino’s appointment follows Patel’s confirmation, who plans to restructure the FBI, relocate employees and refocus on traditional law enforcement duties.
- Critics worry about potential politicization, citing Bongino’s past criticism of FBI leadership and lack of operational expertise.
Full Story
President Donald Trump appointed conservative commentator and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino as deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Bongino will serve under newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel.
The appointment places two Trump allies at the top of the FBI. It raises questions about the agency’s future direction and independence.
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Who is Dan Bongino?
Bongino, 49, is a former U.S. Secret Service agent who has worked in law enforcement and conservative media. Before becoming a commentator, he served on the presidential security details for then-Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
Bongino has hosted TV and radio programs and runs The Dan Bongino Show, one of the most popular political podcasts in the U.S. He has also written best-selling books and unsuccessfully ran for public office in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
Before his time in the Secret Service, Bongino was a New York City police officer in the 1990s. He holds a master’s degree in psychology from the City University of New York and an MBA from Penn State.
Why is Bongino’s appointment significant?
The FBI deputy director is traditionally a career agent who oversees day-to-day operations across the bureau’s 55 field offices. Unlike past appointees, Bongino has never worked for the FBI.
His appointment follows Patel’s confirmation as FBI director by a 51-49 Senate vote. Patel has expressed plans to reorganize the FBI, which includes moving up to 1,500 employees from Washington, D.C., and emphasizing traditional law enforcement responsibilities.
What is Bongino’s stance on the FBI?
Bongino has been a vocal critic of the FBI’s leadership, especially after the 2022 raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, which resulted in a classified documents case against the former president. He has called for mass firings at the agency and accused the FBI’s leadership of political bias. A memo obtained by NBC News indicated that the FBI Agents Association favored a deputy director with operational experience from within the agency.
He has also criticized the Secret Service, labeling it a “failed” agency following two assassination attempts against Trump in 2023. In a 2023 interview, Bongino urged Trump to pledge to establish a commission to reform the Secret Service.
What does the appointment mean for the FBI?
Bongino and Patel assume leadership amid internal turmoil at the FBI. Recently, the Justice Department removed several senior FBI officials and requested the names of thousands of agents involved in investigations related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Democrats and watchdog groups have expressed concerns that Trump’s appointees could use the FBI to retaliate against political opponents. Patel, a former national security official under Trump, has denied he will engage in political retribution.
Bongino’s appointment does not require Senate confirmation. His role as deputy director will allow him to manage FBI operations, oversee major investigations and shape the bureau’s internal policies.
How has Trump responded?
Trump praised Bongino’s appointment, calling it “great news for law enforcement and American justice.”
In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, “Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, by the man who will be the best ever Director, Kash Patel.”
Bongino responded on X, writing, “Thank you, Mr. President, Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel.”
Thank you Mr. President, Attorney General Bondi, and Director Patel. pic.twitter.com/bJqIDbWLEE
— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) February 24, 2025
With Bongino now in place as deputy director, all eyes are on how the FBI’s leadership will navigate growing political scrutiny and internal restructuring in the coming months.
