Senior FBI official Andrew Bailey steps down after just over a year
The US federal law enforcement agency is losing one of its deputy directors, who says he wants to spend more time with his family.
Andrew Bailey steps down on Monday 28 September as one of the FBI’s two deputy directors. He is leaving after just over a year in the post and says he is returning to his family in Missouri.
Bailey announced his departure in a message to FBI staff and on social media. According to CBS News, his resignation takes effect on 2 October. FBI Director Kash Patel publicly thanked him for his contribution to the organisation.
Bailey was appointed in 2025 as a fellow deputy director alongside Dan Bongino. That arrangement was unusual: the FBI traditionally operated with one deputy director, while the organisation has had two such posts since 2026. Christopher Raia is the other current deputy director.
The post is the second-highest within the FBI. The agency falls under the US Department of Justice and deals with both federal law enforcement and national security. A change at the top therefore affects not only internal management, but also how the agency puts its priorities into practice.
Bailey joined the FBI after serving as Missouri’s attorney general. He is regarded as an outspoken Republican and supporter of President Donald Trump. His appointment came during a broader period of change within the FBI under Director Patel.
Bailey cites family reasons for his departure. The public announcement gives no further explanation for the timing. This leaves open whether organisational or political factors also played a role alongside his personal reason; there is no confirmation of this in the public information consulted.
The departure comes shortly after other prominent officials left the US justice system. This will once again raise questions about the FBI’s stability and political independence. At the same time, it has not been announced who will succeed Bailey or whether the current structure with two deputy directors will be changed.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Andrew Bailey has announced his departure as a senior FBI official.
- He cites time with his family as the reason.
- His departure comes after just over a year in the post.
- The FBI has two deputy directors.
- No successor has been announced.
Left
Arguments A departure at this level warrants additional scrutiny when federal law enforcement is already being extensively reformed by a presidential administration. Transparency, professional independence and protection against political interference in investigations are important.
Values The rule of law, institutional independence and equal application of the law.
Consequences More changes at the top could damage the confidence of staff and the public and create the impression that loyalty to the president carries more weight than professional continuity.
Centre
Arguments Staff changes can have personal causes and are not in themselves evidence of a crisis. The institutional question is mainly whether the FBI ensures a clear succession, well-defined responsibilities and continuity of its work.
Values Administrative stability, transparency and a workable relationship between political leadership and civil-service expertise.
Consequences With an orderly succession, the departure need have little impact; uncertainty about the dual leadership could, however, lead to delays and internal uncertainty.
Right
Arguments A president and their justice minister may set the priorities of federal law enforcement and choose leaders to implement that direction. Bailey has publicly given a personal reason, and a political conflict should not be inferred from this without evidence.
Values Democratic accountability, administrative responsibility and scope for reform.
Consequences The FBI must be able to continue its reform agenda without every change being framed as an institutional crisis, as long as the agency continues to operate within the law.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The key facts have been confirmed by the Associated Press, CBS News and the FBI’s official organisational structure. Possible underlying reasons for the departure have not been presented as fact.
- confirmed Andrew Bailey announced his departure as a senior FBI official on 28 September 2026. — The Associated Press and CBS News report his announcement on Monday 28 September 2026. source
- confirmed Bailey says he wants to spend more time with his family. — This is stated in the public statement described by the Associated Press and CBS News. source
- confirmed His resignation takes effect on 2 October. — CBS News gives 2 October as the effective date. source
- confirmed Bailey was a deputy director for just over a year. — The Associated Press describes his departure after just over a year in the post. source
- confirmed The FBI has two deputy directors in its 2026 organisational structure. — The Justice Department’s official organisational structure lists two deputy directors. source
- confirmed Bailey was previously Missouri’s attorney general. — The Associated Press describes his previous role in Missouri. source
- confirmed The sources confirm no reason for his departure other than the publicly cited family reasons. — The reporting consulted mentions no other reason confirmed by Bailey; the wording is therefore limited to what is publicly known. source
Editor's note
It has been confirmed that Andrew Bailey announced his departure, that he had been in the post for just over a year and that he cited family reasons. The effective date of 2 October comes from CBS News; no other reason for his departure has been confirmed.Sources
- Andrew Bailey, an FBI deputy director, says he’s leaving the post after just over a year in the job — Associated Press via Tri-City Record
- Top FBI official Andrew Bailey, who was once widely seen as Patel successor, resigns — CBS News
- Department of Justice | Federal Bureau of Investigation — U.S. Department of Justice
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „fbi andrew bailey”
- de Volkskrant — „fbi andrew bailey”
- RTL Nieuws — „fbi andrew bailey”