A new Daily Beast report — drawing on Rachael Bade’s Inner Circle newsletter — claims FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino may soon be pushed out. The newsletter reports that he “could be out any day” as the administration searches for someone to hold responsible for what it sees as mounting internal turmoil at the bureau — especially the behind-the-scenes battles over how to handle the explosive, so-called Epstein files.
No one is confirming anything publicly yet. Neither the FBI, DOJ, nor the White House has said Bongino is leaving, meaning the chatter remains just that — chatter.
Bade noted that Bongino “ran afoul of the Trump administration over his handling of the Epstein files.” She wrote that it remained uncertain whether the dispute would lead to his dismissal or whether he might ultimately choose to step aside on his own.
Per Mediaite:
According to Bade, Bongino left “senior staff complaining that he put his personal reputation with MAGA World ahead of the team’s best interests.”
Bongino had a “fiery confrontation” with Bondi over the release of a Department of Justice/FBI memo claiming that there was no Epstein client list and no evidence the deceased sexual predator was blackmailing “prominent individuals,” ABC News reported at the time.
Axios reported this summer that Bongino was so upset over clashing with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the files that he didn’t show up for work, leading some to question whether he had quit.
Bongino, a former Secret Service agent, made his name podcasting about the conspiracy theory that Epstein was murdered in prison — a claim that was shut down in the memo. Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Bade explained that tensions have only grown in the months since the dispute. “Since then, it’s been sour grapes where he’s concerned in the West Wing,” she wrote. “The expectation is that he’ll leave eventually; one person told me he’s told others he won’t be in the job much longer.”
Bongino was appointed by President Donald Trump as the FBI’s deputy director and took office in March 2025.
In an unexpected development in September 2025, the Justice Department and FBI announced that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey would join the bureau as co-deputy director, serving alongside Bongino. Bailey resigned as Missouri’s top law enforcement official to assume the new role.
The decision to install two deputies simultaneously immediately drew scrutiny from analysts and former bureau officials, who noted the move was atypical and highlighted broader questions about internal management and cohesion at the FBI.
Whether Bongino is actually on the way out — or whether internal frustrations are simply spilling into the media — remains unclear. Until the administration says something publicly, his future at the FBI is an open question.
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We know damn well the whole purpose of Epstein was to gather dirt on corrupt evil child rapists and hold it over their heads to get what he wanted. We are supposed to believe that he hung himself on a bunk bed. Think about how high a bunk bed is? Maxwell is the only one convicted of trafficking children to no one??? This whole episode stinks. The evidence on the players is being kept from the American People and I can tell you one thing for sure, we don’t care what Political Party sent representatives to this horror show, this needs an end. Everyone in the Trump administration with the proof needs to fess up and release the files. You can be 100% sure that firing Dan would NOT lower those expectations that we get justice one bit!
Tulsi in ” 28
Not too surprising that Bongino might not fit in the room with other Trump Appointees. To fit you must always kiss Trump’s ass by leading every statement with words to the effect that only because of Trump’s “leadership” were you able to accomplish anything. Bongino is pro getting things done, but not by worshipping Trump.
Obviously, they want a “YES” man in that position and Bongino is not afraid to tell it like it is … definitely not a “YES” man. Too bad because we need some straight shooters in those positions who we can trust.