Dan Bongino, the former Secret Service agent turned Fox News host and conservative podcast personality, has been named the next Deputy Director of the FBI. This appointment, announced by President Donald Trump, is drawing criticism from Democrats as another ally of Trump moves into a significant leadership position within the agency.
President Donald Trump announced Dan Bongino's appointment as Deputy FBI Director on Sunday. Bongino will serve under the newly confirmed FBI Director, Kash Patel. Known for hosting a popular right-wing and pro-Trump podcast, The Dan Bongino Show, which ranks among Apple's top 10 news podcasts, Bongino is a familiar face in conservative circles.
On Monday morning, a visibly emotional Bongino shared on his podcast how he was watching TV at home when Trump called to inform him about the appointment. "I got a call from the president, and he couldn't have been nicer," Bongino recounted. "This is now real," he added, expressing his desire for the Deputy FBI Director job.
The appointment has not been without controversy. Typically, the position of the FBI's Deputy Director is held by a career agent, which Bongino is not. Democrats have voiced their concerns, worried that Trump might use his allies to target adversaries. Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff criticized the appointment, suggesting it degrades law enforcement agencies and public safety. Similarly, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy accused Trump of choosing "grifters" to lead the FBI.
Bongino defended his appointment, insisting that the role is "unquestionably nonpartisan." He emphasized his commitment to service, drawing parallels to various roles people play in their lives, from being parents and coaches to military officers and carpenters.
Bongino joins an FBI undergoing significant changes under the Trump administration. Director Kash Patel has announced plans to reduce the agency's footprint in the National Capital Region, reallocating personnel to field offices and the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. This move might involve relocating as many as 1,500 agents from Washington.
Bongino stated his dedication to restoring trust in the FBI, describing the agency as "lost, broken, and irredeemably corrupt" in the past. He pledged to work towards reestablishing faith in the institution and supporting the good people within it.
Born and raised in Queens, New York, Bongino is the son of a plumber and a supermarket employee. He started his career as a New York Police Department officer in the 1990s before joining the Secret Service, where he eventually became part of former President Barack Obama's protection detail.
Compelled by what he described as a series of secret negotiations around the Affordable Care Act, Bongino left the Secret Service to run for Congress in Maryland in 2014. Although unsuccessful, the campaign allowed him to build a platform for speaking on conservative issues.
A staunch supporter of Trump, Bongino has consistently questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 election results and has been critical of investigations into Trump, including the Trump-Russia collusion investigation, which he labeled "a total scam."
Despite his new role, Bongino has been openly critical of the Secret Service, especially after an incident during the 2024 campaign where Trump was shot. Bongino called for the firing of former Deputy Director Ron Rowe and then-Director Christopher Wray.
