FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey announced on Monday, September 28, 2026, that he is resigning from his position after just over a year. Bailey, a former Missouri attorney general, stated he is stepping down to return to Missouri to spend time with his family.
Bailey’s appointment in August 2025 was considered unusual because the FBI historically employed only one deputy director at a time. He was initially named co-deputy director to serve alongside Dan Bongino during a period of tension between the FBI and the Justice Department regarding the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Following Bongino's departure in December 2025, Bailey continued in the role alongside Christopher Raia, a career agent who joined as another deputy director in January. Bailey’s tenure occurred under the leadership of FBI Director Kash Patel, who has overseen several leadership changes at the agency.
In a statement posted to X, Bailey thanked President Donald Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve. Patel responded by crediting Bailey for his service and for "instituting critical reforms." While in office, Bailey maintained a low public profile, though he was noted for his presence during a January search of an election facility in Fulton County, Georgia.
The restructuring of the FBI has involved the removal or departure of several experienced career officials. In September 2025, former acting FBI director Brian Driscoll and other officials filed a lawsuit against Patel and other administration allies, alleging that the leadership changes constituted a politically motivated purge. The outcome of such litigation and the frequent turnover in the deputy director role—a position that typically oversees the day-to-day operations of the bureau's multi-billion dollar budget—sets a precedent for how the agency is staffed and managed by political appointees versus career civil servants.
What happens next: Bailey did not specify an exact final date for his departure in his announcement. Director Patel continues to lead the agency alongside deputy director Christopher Raia. It is not yet reported if the FBI will seek a replacement for the co-deputy position or return to its traditional single-deputy structure. The lawsuit filed by Driscoll and other former leaders remains ongoing as of September 2026.