Andrew Bailey announces FBI resignation in X post

NYT report cites contention between FBI deputies and Patel

Andrew Bailey, a deputy director of the FBI who oversaw some of President Donald Trump’s election-related investigations, announced his resignation Monday in an X post, about a year after assuming the role. “I am announcing that I am stepping down to return to my family in Missouri,” Bailey wrote in the post, amid what The Guardian described as an ongoing shake-up at the bureau.

“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 added, thanking FBI Director Kash Patel, Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Bailey, a hardline conservative and former attorney general of Missouri, began serving in the FBI’s unusual co-deputy director position in September 2025 alongside Dan Bongino, a podcaster who had no formal FBI experience. Since Bongino left the bureau in January, Bailey has served as co-deputy director with Christopher Raia, a former FBI special agent and New York field office official. It is unclear whether Trump plans to pick another deputy director to serve alongside Raia, The Guardian reported.

In his FBI role, Bailey oversaw some of Trump’s election-related investigations, including one related to 2020 ballots in Georgia. He was present in January when FBI agents executed a search warrant at an election office in Fulton County and seized ballots among other materials from the 2020 presidential election.

MS Now was the first to report Bailey’s resignation, according to The Guardian.

Although Bailey said he was leaving to spend more time with his family, a New York Times report cited by The Guardian indicated that Bailey and Raia had “somewhat of a contentious relationship” with Patel and went long stretches without speaking to each other.

Bailey’s exit comes amid what The Guardian reported as mass departures of career FBI agents under Patel’s leadership. Some have been forced out over perceived political bias, while others have left voluntarily for fear of retribution or to avoid carrying out orders they do not agree with.

When asked for comment, the FBI referred The Guardian to Bailey’s social media post announcing his resignation. On X, Patel thanked Bailey for his service. “Although Andrew is leaving the FBI in order to return to his family in Missouri, his fantastic contribution instituting critical reforms which resulted in our historic success will live on,” Patel wrote. “Andrew’s leadership at the FBI will be missed but we are grateful he answered the call to serve!”