FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey Resigns After One Year of Tensions with Kash Patel

Key points

• Andrew Bailey, former Missouri attorney general and FBI co-deputy director, announced his resignation on September 28, 2026, effective October 2.
• Bailey cited family reasons in a post on X, thanking President Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve.
• Bailey’s departure marks the end of a nontraditional leadership structure at the FBI, where the deputy director role was split between two people for the first time.
• His exit follows the earlier departure of Dan Bongino and occurs amid reported friction with Patel, who had reportedly excluded Bailey from key meetings.
• Bailey’s tenure was brief, lasting just over a year, and his departure leaves Chris Raia as the sole co-deputy director.

Background

Bailey’s appointment to the co-deputy director role in August 2025 was unusual, as the FBI had historically had only one deputy director at a time. The split role was created to ease tensions between former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino. Bailey’s departure follows a period of reported friction with Patel, who had reportedly excluded Bailey from key meetings. The FBI’s leadership structure has been in flux, with Bongino leaving in January and Chris Raia being appointed as the new co-deputy director. Bailey’s exit also occurs amid broader leadership instability at the bureau, including a recent court ruling blocking Patel’s plan to move the FBI’s headquarters to the Reagan Building.

How outlets are covering it

CBS News emphasized the reported friction between Bailey and Patel, noting that Patel had excluded Bailey from meetings and instructed staff to refer to him as 'co-deputy director' rather than 'deputy director.' NBC News highlighted the nontraditional nature of the co-deputy director role and Bailey’s brief tenure, while KY3 focused on Bailey’s return to Missouri to be with his family. All outlets agreed that Bailey’s resignation was effective October 2 and that he cited family reasons. The sources also noted that Bailey’s departure leaves Chris Raia as the sole co-deputy director, a position that had historically been filled by a career FBI staffer.

Why it matters

Bailey’s resignation signals continued instability in the FBI’s leadership under Director Kash Patel. The departure of a high-profile official, even if cited for family reasons, raises questions about the working relationship between Patel and his subordinates. The nontraditional co-deputy director structure, which was a first for the FBI, has now ended, potentially signaling a return to more traditional leadership arrangements. Bailey’s exit also occurs amid broader tensions within the Justice Department, including a recent court ruling blocking Patel’s plan to move the FBI’s headquarters. These developments may have implications for the FBI’s operations and public trust in the institution.

What to watch

The FBI will need to determine whether to fill the co-deputy director role or revert to a single deputy director structure. Chris Raia, who was appointed as co-deputy director in January, will likely continue in his role, but the bureau may need to address the leadership vacuum left by Bailey’s departure. The Justice Department may also need to address any ongoing tensions between Patel and other officials, as well as the implications of the recent court ruling blocking the FBI’s headquarters move. Bailey’s return to Missouri may also have political implications, given his status as a former attorney general and ardent Republican backer of President Trump.