Overview
- Andrew Bailey announced on Monday, September 28, 2026, that he is stepping down to return to his family in Missouri and posted praise for the FBI's "historical results" and confidence in Director Kash Patel.
- Multiple U.S. outlets reported that Bailey had a highly strained relationship with Patel, and CBS said Patel excluded Bailey from meetings he normally would have attended.
- Bailey previously served as Missouri attorney general and had publicly criticized some FBI actions as unconstitutional, a record that media sources say factored into internal tensions.
- The deputy director role was unusually double-filled under President Trump, with Bailey once sharing the post with Dan Bongino and later working alongside Christopher Raia, a setup that has complicated succession dynamics.
- Coverage differs in tone with some outlets framing the departure as part of chaotic turnover under Patel and critics warning of politicization, while others note Bailey's stated family reasons and praise for agency reforms, leaving questions about who will replace him and how the bureau will manage continuity.