Overview
- President Trump announced the departure, and Bongino confirmed it on X without giving a reason or a specific date.
- Bongino thanked Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi in his post and said the exit will take effect in January.
- He was appointed in February and began in March, leaving after roughly nine months in a role traditionally held by a career FBI official and not subject to Senate confirmation.
- Reporting during his tenure described a heated dispute with Bondi and at least one unexplained absence from work.
- His standing appeared to wane after Andrew Bailey was added as another deputy in August, and his prior media career drew criticism for promoting election and pandemic misinformation.