Is the FBI's second-in-command about to walk away from the badge?
Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is at a crossroads, with sources indicating a decision on his future at the bureau could come within weeks, while his leadership alongside Director Kash Patel faces mounting scrutiny over their bold reforms, as Fox News reports.
Since taking their roles earlier this year, Bongino and Patel have stirred the pot with sweeping changes at the FBI, promising a new era of accountability and safety for the public.
Yet, the honeymoon didn’t last long. Criticism has piled up in recent weeks, with a scathing internal report from a mix of active and retired FBI personnel branding the bureau as aimless under this new duo.
The 115-page document, highlighted by New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, paints a grim picture of an agency adrift, accusing Bongino and Patel of mishandling their mandate.
But Bongino isn’t one to shrink from a fight. He’s pushed back hard against the naysayers, pointing to concrete wins like the FBI’s recent bust of 449 child predators and the rescue of 224 children in just his first three months on the job.
At a Department of Justice news conference on Dec. 4, both leaders stood firm, defending their overhaul as a necessary shake-up for a bureau long in need of a reset.
Bongino, in particular, has been vocal about dismissing the critiques as sour grapes from a bygone era. “When the director and I moved forward with these reforms, we expected some noise from the small circle of disgruntled former agents still loyal to the old Comey–Wray model,” he told Fox News.
“That was never our audience. Our responsibility is to the American people,” Bongino continued. “And under the new leadership team, the bureau is delivering results this country hasn't seen in decades — tighter accountability, tougher performance standards, billions saved, and a mission-first culture. That's how you restore trust.”
Let’s be real—change hurts, especially when it upends cozy bureaucracies. Bongino’s jab at the “old-guard” mindset hits a nerve; for too long, federal agencies have dodged the kind of scrutiny everyday Americans face at their jobs.
Still, whispers of Bongino’s potential exit persist, even as sources deny rumors that his office sits vacant. They admit, though, that a departure isn’t off the table in the near future.
No final call has been made, according to insiders familiar with his thinking. The suspense builds as the next few weeks could redefine the FBI’s trajectory.
For conservatives tired of entrenched, unaccountable systems, Bongino and Patel represent a breath of fresh air, even if their methods ruffle feathers. Their focus on results over feelings is a welcome shift from the progressive playbook of endless excuses.
Yet, balance matters—criticism from within the ranks can’t be waved off as mere nostalgia. As Bongino mulls his next move, the nation watches, hoping the FBI can steer toward stability without losing the grit of reform.
