FBI co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey steps down after one year on the job

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 aside, two people familiar with the matter tell NBC News.

An email sent internally at the FBI stated that Bailey was leaving for family reasons, the two people familiar with the matter told NBC News. Bailey had been the attorney general of Missouri before resigning his position to join the FBI last year. He had worked under FBI Director Kash Patel.

The FBI referred a request for comment to a post Bailey made on social media, stating that 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 delivered historic results in our mission to Make America Safe Again. With great pride in what we have accomplished, I am announcing that I am stepping down to return to my family in Missouri,” Bailey wrote. “I am confident 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 Secret Service member, subsequently left his job to return to podcasting after just under a year at the FBI. The non-traditional co-deputy structure, set up when Bongino was in the position, remained in place. Bongino was then replaced by Chris Raia, whose background as a career FBI special agent was more in line with the tradition of having the critical no. 2 position at the FBI filled by someone with extensive 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 at the bureau, has recently gotten into heated exchanges with Democratic members of Congress over his leadership at the bureau.