WASHINGTON — Dan Bongino, a former U.S. Secret Service agent and well-known conservative commentator, has been appointed as the new deputy director of the FBI. Bongino, who has made a name for himself through television appearances and a popular podcast, was announced for the role by President Donald Trump through his Truth Social account. Trump expressed his admiration for Bongino, calling him a person of “incredible love and passion for our Country,” labeling the appointment as “great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice.”
This appointment places two of Trump’s loyal allies in key positions within the country’s foremost federal law enforcement agency, amid rising concerns from Democrats about the potential misuse of the FBI to target political opponents. Bongino will work alongside Kash Patel, who was recently sworn in as FBI director and has plans to overhaul the agency, including relocating many staff members from Washington, D.C., and refocusing on traditional law enforcement activities.
The deputy director position is crucial as it serves as the second-in-command within the FBI and is typically filled by a seasoned career agent responsible for the agency’s daily law enforcement functions. Although this role does not require Senate confirmation, both Bongino and Patel have not previously served within the FBI, prompting concerns regarding their qualifications, particularly given the current rise in national security challenges.
Natalie Bara, the president of the FBI Agents Association, communicated in a newsletter prior to Bongino’s appointment that during a January meeting, Patel acknowledged that the FBI deputy director should ideally be a currently active Special Agent. This perspective highlights the importance of operational experience and fostering trust within the agency’s workforce which has been the norm for over a century.
Bongino’s appointment comes at a turbulent time for the FBI, as the Justice Department has recently dismissed several senior officials and has controversially requested the identities of thousands of agents involved in investigations related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Before rising to prominence in conservative circles, Bongino served on the presidential details for both Barack Obama and George W. Bush. He later became a vocal supporter of the Make America Great Again movement, notably spreading unsubstantiated claims regarding the integrity of the 2020 election, assertions that have been broadly dismissed in courts and by former Trump’s attorney general, William Barr.
In the years following the passing of Rush Limbaugh in 2021, Bongino took over his radio time slot, further solidifying his position in conservative media. With a background in law enforcement, having worked for the NYPD before joining the Secret Service, Bongino has been actively working as a commentator on Fox News for more than ten years, and he hosted a weekend show on the network until 2023. He also runs one of the top podcasts, The Dan Bongino Show, which continues to garner significant attention on platforms like Spotify.
Bongino’s political aspirations have included bids for a Senate seat in Maryland in 2012 and congressional races in both Maryland and Florida in 2014 and 2016, though he was unsuccessful in all three attempts. In a past conversation with Trump, he voiced the necessity of reforming the Secret Service, criticizing it as a “failed” agency following incidents involving security breaches.
Patel and Bongino take over from the acting leaders Brian Driscoll and Rob Kissane, who have been steering the bureau since the resignation of former Director Christopher Wray in January. Wray had been appointed by Trump and led the agency for seven years before stepping down at the conclusion of the Biden administration to allow for a new appointment.
