Dan Bongino, a former New York City police officer and Secret Service agent, has been named deputy director of the FBI by President Trump. This appointment, announced on Trump’s social media, raises concerns as both Bongino and newly appointed director Kash Patel lack FBI experience. Their leadership marks a notable shift from past practices of selecting seasoned agents, intensifying distrust within the bureau. The FBI Agents Association had previously urged that the deputy director be an active special agent. Bongino’s history as a right-wing pundit, coupled with ongoing political upheaval at the FBI, raises questions about the agency’s credibility and independence.
Dan Bongino, a former police officer in New York City and Secret Service agent who has become a right-wing commentator and podcaster, was announced by President Trump as the next deputy director of the F.B.I. on Sunday night.
During his announcement on his social media platform, Mr. Trump stated that the newly appointed F.B.I. director, Kash Patel, had selected Mr. Bongino for the No. 2 position within the nation’s leading law enforcement agency. This deputy director role does not necessitate Senate confirmation, which means two unwavering Trump supporters will take the helm of an agency renowned for its independence.
This news broke approximately one hour after the F.B.I. Agents Association informed its members that Mr. Patel had privately acknowledged the necessity for the next deputy director to be a seasoned F.B.I. agent, thereby heightening concerns among the rank-and-file.
The F.B.I. has yet to provide a comment on the matter.
Historically, F.B.I. directors have opted for senior agents with significant field experience to oversee the bureau’s operations, a demanding task that involves collaboration with international partners and managing sensitive investigations.
The selection of Mr. Bongino marks a striking and unexpected shift from established practices, raising alarming concerns regarding how two individuals without prior F.B.I. experience will manage the extensive surveillance and investigative authority of an agency comprising 38,000 personnel and operating with a budget nearing $11 billion.
The pairing of Mr. Patel and Mr. Bongino will constitute the least experienced leadership duo in the history of a bureau that has traditionally been shielded from political influence. This development guarantees that the agency will be led by individuals who have actively circulated misinformation and engaged in partisan rhetoric.
“My entire life right now is about owning the libs,” Mr. Bongino declared in 2018. He has also reiterated a common grievance from the far right, denouncing what they refer to as the deep state.
Mr. Bongino’s rise occurs amidst considerable turmoil within the agency as the Justice Department has dismissed several senior executives, who collectively bring decades of operational experience to the bureau.
The fate of interim leaders, Brian Driscoll and Robert C. Kissane, who have acted as director and deputy director until Mr. Patel’s confirmation, remains uncertain. Their initial refusal to comply with the Justice Department’s request for identifying bureau personnel involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol investigation has made them popular among internal staff, as many view them as resistant to perceived political meddling.
Many within the agency had hoped that these two would stay in Washington to assist Mr. Patel in leading the F.B.I.
In an internal newsletter circulated to agents prior to Mr. Trump’s announcement, the association president, Natalie Bara, revealed that during a January meeting with Mr. Patel, she and vice president Jen Morrow advocated for his deputy to be an onboard, active special agent, highlighting the importance of this precedent established over 117 years.
According to Ms. Bara, Mr. Patel concurred with this perspective.
It has been reported that Mr. Patel sought Mr. Bongino as his deputy, although it remains unclear whether Mr. Trump also influenced this selection.
Mr. Bongino previously campaigned for elected office three times before gaining traction as a right-wing personality.
Having departed from Fox News in 2023, Mr. Bongino was notably a host who welcomed Mr. Trump on his show in 2021, a time when the network—and much of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire—sought to move past the Trump presidency.
On Fox News in December 2021, Geraldo Rivera referred to the January 6 events as a riot “unleashed, incited, and inspired” by Mr. Trump, prompting Mr. Bongino to question his loyalty. “The back-stabbing of the president you’re engaging in is really disgusting,” he remarked.
His brash communication style quickly propelled him to fame across radio and social media platforms, where he frequently disseminates misinformation. This includes claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent, false assertions regarding the efficacy of masks in preventing COVID-19 transmission, and elaborate conspiracy theories that suggest a Democratic scheme to surveil Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign.
In an interview with The New Yorker, Pete Hegseth, formerly a Fox News host and now the defense secretary, likened Mr. Bongino to a general skilled in “information warfare.”
This news has raised concerns regarding how the F.B.I. will maintain its credibility under the leadership of two individuals known for promoting exaggerated and misleading claims.
Upon his confirmation, Mr. Patel sent an email to the F.B.I., stating, “I will always have your backs, because you have the backs of the American people.”
Maggie Haberman contributed reporting.