Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and conservative commentator, has been chosen as the FBI’s deputy director. AP Photo
Former Secret Service agent and conservative commentator Dan Bongino has been appointed as the FBI’s deputy director. President Donald Trump announced the decision on Sunday, calling Bongino “a man of incredible love and passion for our country.” He described the move as “great news for law enforcement and American justice.”
Bongino, 49, will serve under Kash Patel, who was sworn in as FBI director last Friday. Patel has already expressed plans to reshape the agency, including relocating hundreds of employees and focusing more on traditional crime-fighting efforts. His appointment has raised concerns among Democrats, who worry the administration might use the agency to target political opponents. Patel has not confirmed whether he plans to do so.
The deputy director position is usually held by a career FBI agent, responsible for overseeing daily operations. Bongino, however, has no prior experience with the bureau. He previously worked in law enforcement, serving in the New York Police Department from 1997 to 1999 before joining the Secret Service. He was assigned to the presidential details of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
After leaving government service, Bongino became a major conservative media figure. He is a bestselling author, a former Fox News host, and currently runs The Dan Bongino Show, one of the most popular podcasts on Spotify. He also briefly took over a time slot once held by radio legend Rush Limbaugh after his passing in 2021.
Bongino is a well-known supporter of the "MAGA" movement and has been a vocal critic of the 2020 election results. He has run for public office three times—once for a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland in 2012 and twice for congressional seats in 2014 and 2016. He lost all three races.
Last year, Bongino interviewed Trump and urged him to reform the Secret Service, calling it a “failed” agency. He criticized its handling of two assassination attempts against the former president. During the interview, he mentioned a suspect who had camped outside Trump’s Florida golf course with a rifle, saying, “That guy should have been nowhere near you.”
Bongino’s appointment places two strong Trump allies in charge of the FBI, a move that is likely to spark debate. With both Bongino and Patel leading the agency, major changes are expected.
