Full Breakdown
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey Resigns After Just Over a Year
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The resignation takes effect on Oct. 2. Bailey cited family considerations as the sole reason for his departure.
Background & Context
Bailey, former Missouri attorney general (2023-2025), was appointed co-deputy director in August 2025 under the Trump administration. The role was created to split the bureau’s No. 2 position between Bailey and conservative podcaster Dan Bongino, a departure from the traditional single deputy model. Bongino left in January 2026 and was replaced by career special-agent Christopher Raia, leaving Bailey to share the deputy role with Raia under Director Kash Patel.
Bailey’s tenure overlapped with heightened scrutiny of the FBI’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein files and a series of election-integrity investigations, including a January 2026 search of the Fulton County, Georgia, election office.
Timeline
- August 2025 – Bailey appointed co-deputy director alongside Dan Bongino.
- January 2026 – Bongino resigns; Christopher Raia assumes the second slot.
- January 28, 2026 – Bailey present when agents execute a search warrant at the Fulton County election facility.
- September 28, 2026 – Bailey announces resignation via X; effective Oct. 2.
Data & Statistics
- FBI workforce: ? 38,000 employees.
- Co-deputy director model: first used in 2025.
- Bailey’s service length: just over one year (August 2025 – September 2026).
Why It Matters
Bailey’s exit marks the second senior-leadership change within a year, highlighting instability in the co-deputy structure introduced by Patel.
Official Statements & Responses
- Andrew Bailey thanked President Donald Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Director Patel, emphasizing “historic results” achieved under Trump’s leadership and expressing confidence in Patel’s reform agenda.
- Kash Patel praised Bailey’s “fantastic contribution instituting critical reforms” and said the bureau would “miss” his leadership while affirming that Bailey’s reforms would endure.
- Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe highlighted Bailey’s “laser-focus” and public-service record.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- A Patel spokesperson asserted that the two deputies “meet and speak daily.”
- Successor: Some outlets suggest Christopher Raia may become the sole deputy director; others note Patel has not announced a replacement, leaving the future structure uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “With great pride in what we have accomplished, I am announcing that I am stepping down to return to my family in Missouri,” — Andrew Bailey
- “I want to thank Andrew Bailey for his dedicated service to return the FBI to its core mission and fulfill President Trump's promise to make America safe again,” — Kash Patel