WASHINGTON — Another top FBI official is leaving the bureau after just a year on the job.
Andrew Bailey, who joined the FBI in the newly created position of “co-deputy director” in September 2025 to work alongside then-deputy director Dan Bongino, is stepping down, two people familiar with the matter told NBC News.
An email sent internally to the FBI indicated Bailey was leaving for family reasons, the two people familiar with the matter told NBC News. Bailey had served as Missouri’s attorney general before resigning from the post to join the FBI last year. He had worked under FBI Director Kash Patel.
The FBI referred a request for comment on a social media post Bailey made, saying he wanted to thank President Donald Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Patel for the opportunity.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we have achieved historic results in our mission to make America safe again. With great pride in what we have accomplished, I announce that I am resigning to return to my family in Missouri,” Bailey wrote. “I am confident that Director Patel will continue to reform the FBI, combat violent crime, defend the homeland, ensure strong organizational accountability, and restore public trust in this institution of excellence.”
Bongino, a conservative podcaster and former member of the Secret Service, later left his job to return to podcasting after just under a year with the FBI. The non-traditional co-deputy structure, put in place when Bongino was in office, remained in place. Bongino was later replaced by Chris Raia, whose experience as an FBI special agent was more in line with the tradition of having the critical number. 2 FBI position held by someone with in-depth knowledge of the bureau.
MS NOW first reported Bailey’s planned departure.
Patel, who is suing The Atlantic for $250 million over an article about his leadership in the office, has recently had heated exchanges with Democratic members of Congress over his leadership in the office.
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