Trump Selects Dan Bongino as Deputy FBI Director

President Trump announced he had named Cumulus' Westwood One syndicated radio host and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino as deputy director of the FBI, putting a political appointee, rather than a career agent, in the No. 2 job for the first time in the bureau’s 117 year history.

The Wall Street Journal reports Bongino’s background is strikingly different from that of his predecessors. He is a former Secret Service agent and New York Police Department officer who has never worked for the FBI, a first for the holder of the deputy role. The post is responsible for overseeing the bureau’s day-to-day enforcement operations.

Bongino lost three congressional races—two in Maryland and one in Florida—running as a Republican, but has been highly successful as a media personality. A vocal supporter of conservative candidates, Bongino once declared, “my entire life right now is about owning the libs.”

Bongino has interviewed Trump on his popular podcast, has written several bestselling books and appeared regularly on Fox News.

Trump said Bongino would give up his podcast and daily radio showin order to serve.

A spokesperson for Cumulus Media issued this statement:

"We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dan Bongino on his decision to take on the role of Deputy Director of the FBI. Dan has entertained and informed tens of millions of listeners every day and we are grateful for our successful partnership. We look forward to welcoming Dan back in the future. 

We truly value our audience, advertisers, and affiliates and remain dedicated to bringing them the next exciting chapter for this programming soon. Dan’s last show will be Friday, March 14th."

The announcement sent shock waves through the FBI, whose new director Kash Patel had offered Republican senators private assurances that he would name a special agent with bureau experience to be his deputy, rather than a political outsider. Patel was sworn in at the White House on Friday.

Leaders of the FBI Agents Association, who met with Patel in January, said the new director had agreed that the deputy should be a current special agent to provide operational expertise and experience as well as to boost trust within the workforce, according to a Sunday email to membership that was viewed by The Wall Street Journal. The association is an employee group that represents thousands of agents. 

The selection of Bongino is the latest move signaling Trump’s desire to bring federal law enforcement more closely under his direct control, striking back at an agency he has long considered his nemesis. Patel’s arrival marks a major shift at the bureau, as he plans to move its focus from terrorism and counterintelligence work back toward its historical mission of fighting violent crime.