In a move that further cements his influence within the nation’s primary federal law enforcement agency, President Donald Trump has appointed Dan Bongino, a former U.S. Secret Service agent and notable figure in conservative media, as the new FBI deputy director. The announcement was made this Sunday night through the president's Truth Social platform, where he lauded Bongino as "a man of incredible love and passion for our Country," calling this development "great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice," according to a post obtained by ABC 7 Chicago.
Bongino's career, thus far, has seen him working within the New York Police Department from 1997 through 1999, before joining the Secret Service where he served on the presidential details for both Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. Subsequently, he transitioned into a media personality, becoming a prominent voice in the MAGA political movement, and hosting "The Dan Bongino Show," which has been recognized as one of the top podcasts on Spotify, as reported by ABC News. In this new role, Bongino will work under FBI Director Kash Patel, another Trump ally who took office on Friday and who has plans to restructure the FBI, emphasizing its traditional crime-fighting duties.
The selection of Bongino, 49, who has never been an FBI agent himself, has been met with questions concerning his experience level, especially as the United States grapples with rising national security concerns. Typically, the FBI deputy director is a career agent tasked with managing the bureau's daily law enforcement operations. Natalie Bara, president of the FBI Agents Association, had highlighted in an internal newsletter the importance of this position being held by an active Special Agent, a standard upheld for 117 years for "many compelling reasons, including operational expertise and experience, as well as the trust of our Special Agent population," as mentioned by ABC 7 Chicago.
Bongino, besides his work in law enforcement, has dabbled in politics, having run for a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland in 2012 and for congressional seats in 2014 and 2016 in Maryland and Florida. His bids were unsuccessful on all three occasions. Last fall, in an interview, Bongino called for a commission to reform the Secret Service, criticizing it as a "failed” agency in light of two assassination attempts last year. "That guy should have been nowhere near you," Bongino said about an individual who was allegedly armed outside Trump's Florida golf course, as told by ABC News. This shakeup atop the FBI comes amidst recent administrative turmoil, with senior bureau officials being ousted and a unique call for the names of thousands of agents involved in the January 6 investigations.
