Dan Bongino Responds to Kash Patel’s Praise After Announcing Departure: “Honor of a Lifetime”

Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino announced Wednesday that he will be stepping down from his position in January, less than a year after being sworn in. The announcement prompted praise from FBI Director Kash Patel and other administration officials.

“Dan is the best partner I could’ve asked for in helping restore this FBI,” Patel wrote on social media. “He brought critical reforms to make the organization more efficient, led the successful Summer Heat operation, served as the people’s voice for transparency, and delivered major breakthroughs in long unsolved cases like the pipe bomb investigation.”

Patel emphasized that Bongino “not only completed his mission – he far exceeded it,” adding that “our country is better and safer for it.” Bongino responded to the praise, calling it “the honor of a lifetime to serve beside you.”

Before Bongino’s official announcement, President Donald Trump had already commented on the departure, noting that Bongino “did a great job” and suggesting that the deputy director likely wanted to return to his previous media career. Prior to joining the FBI, Bongino was a prominent conservative commentator and radio host with a substantial following.

The former Secret Service agent joined the FBI leadership team during Trump’s second administration, being sworn in during March 2025. His appointment was part of Trump’s effort to reshape federal law enforcement agencies with appointees he considered loyal to his vision for reforming these institutions.

Attorney General Pam Bondi also weighed in on Bongino’s departure, stating that “Americans are safer because of @FBIDDBongino’s service.”

During his brief tenure, Bongino was involved in several high-profile investigations, most notably the breakthrough in the January 6th pipe bomber case. On December 4, 2025, Bongino appeared alongside Patel and Bondi at a Department of Justice press conference to discuss developments in this long-running investigation, which had remained unsolved during the previous administration.

The “Summer Heat” operation that Patel referenced in his statement was a major federal law enforcement initiative focused on reducing violent crime in urban areas across the country. The program, which was a signature effort during Bongino’s time as deputy director, involved coordination between federal, state, and local authorities to target repeat violent offenders.

Bongino’s departure represents a significant change in FBI leadership. His appointment had initially raised eyebrows among some career officials due to his transition from media personality to high-ranking law enforcement official. However, supporters point to his previous experience as a Secret Service agent as evidence of his qualifications for the role.

The FBI has not yet announced who will replace Bongino when he departs in January, though speculation has already begun about potential candidates. Whoever takes the position will inherit an agency that has undergone substantial restructuring under the current administration, with changes to priorities, protocols, and personnel throughout the bureau.

Bongino’s exit comes at a time when the FBI continues to face scrutiny from various political perspectives, with the bureau navigating complex investigations while also implementing the institutional changes prioritized by the Trump administration in its second term.