FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey will leave his post on October 2, he announced on Monday, September 28, 2026.
Bailey, a former Missouri attorney general who joined the bureau in September 2025, cited personal reasons for his departure after about twelve months in the second-ranking operational role.
The FBI created a dual-deputy structure last year, placing Bailey alongside former Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who left in January.
Career FBI veteran Chris Raia now holds the other co-deputy position.
Internal Tensions and Constitutional Objections
Tensions between Bailey and FBI Director Kash Patel persisted throughout his tenure, according to sources familiar with the dynamic.
Patel routinely excluded Bailey from high-level meetings and instructed leadership to maintain distinct titles among executive staff, the sources said.
Insiders indicated that Bailey frequently raised constitutional objections regarding operational choices, leading to further isolation from administrative decision-making.
In an internal email to staff on Monday morning, Bailey described his exit as personal, a message he later repeated publicly on social channels.
"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 said.
Bailey expressed continued trust in current leadership to handle federal law enforcement tasks going forward.
"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," he said.
After the public announcement, bureau leadership issued a brief statement acknowledging the departure.
In an X post, Patel thanked Bailey for "his fantastic contribution instituting critical reforms."
The resignation follows recent personnel reassignments at the Washington Field Office, where two counterterrorism supervisors were demoted after White House staff complaints regarding the management of personal security threats.
