Washington, D.C.: U.S. President Joe Biden has appointed Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and conservative commentator, as the new deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Bongino, who is also a radio talk show host, will serve under Kash Patel, who was sworn in as FBI director on February 22.
Announcing Bongino’s appointment on his Truth Social platform, former President Donald Trump highlighted Bongino’s law enforcement experience and political connections.
“Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice! Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, by the man who will be the best-ever Director, Kash Patel,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
He further praised Bongino’s academic credentials and career, stating, “Dan has a Masters Degree in Psychology from C.U.N.Y., and an MBA from Penn State. He was a member of the New York Police Department (New York’s Finest!), a highly respected Special Agent with the United States Secret Service, and is now one of the most successful Podcasters in the Country, something he is willing and prepared to give up in order to serve. Working with our great new United States Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and Director Patel, Fairness, Justice, Law and Order will be brought back to America, and quickly. Congratulations Dan!”
Bongino’s appointment adds to the growing list of law enforcement officials selected under the current administration.
Thank you Mr. President, Attorney General Bondi, and Director Patel. pic.twitter.com/bJqIDbWLEE
— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) February 24, 2025
Bongino’s appointment positions two strong Trump allies at the helm of the country’s leading federal law enforcement agency, raising concerns among Democrats that the president may attempt to go after his opponents.
Dan Bongino
Bongino, 49, holds a Master’s degree in psychology from the City University of New York (CUNY) and an MBA from Penn State. He began his law enforcement career with the New York Police Department, serving from 1997 to 1999, before joining the Secret Service, where he was assigned to the protective details of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
Bongino transitioned to media over a decade ago, becoming a commentator on Fox News. From 2021 to 2023, he hosted a Saturday night show on the network. He currently hosts The Dan Bongino Show, which ranks among the most popular podcasts on Spotify.
Following the death of Rush Limbaugh in 2021, Bongino was selected to host a radio program in the same time slot as the influential broadcaster. In addition to his media career, he has authored best-selling books and gained prominence as a conservative commentator.
Bongino also pursued a political career, running for a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland in 2012 and for congressional seats in Maryland (2014) and Florida (2016) after relocating in 2015. However, he was unsuccessful in all three elections.
As FBI deputy director, Bongino will serve under Kash Patel, who has expressed plans to overhaul the agency, including relocating hundreds of employees from its Washington headquarters and prioritizing traditional crime-fighting efforts.
The deputy director is the FBI’s second-highest-ranking official and typically comes from within the agency, overseeing its daily law enforcement operations.
Support to Trump
Bongino emerged as a prominent figure in the Make America Great Again political movement, playing a key role in spreading false claims about the 2020 election.
In an interview last fall, he urged Trump to pledge the creation of a commission to overhaul the Secret Service, describing it as a “failed” agency and criticizing its handling of two assassination attempts in the past year.
Referring to an incident involving a man who, according to authorities, camped outside Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, before being seen with a rifle, Bongino remarked, “That guy should have been nowhere near you.”
