FBI co-deputy director Andrew Bailey resigns after just over a year

Yesterday 17:14

By: Azzat Manal

FBI co-deputy director Andrew Bailey resigns after just over a year

Andrew Bailey, one of the FBI’s co-deputy directors, announced on Monday that he is stepping down from his position after slightly more than a year at the agency, saying he plans to return to Missouri to spend more time with his family.

Bailey confirmed his departure in a post on social media in which he thanked President Donald Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve at the bureau. He said he was leaving with confidence that the FBI would continue its work under Patel’s leadership.

Before joining the FBI, Bailey served as Missouri’s attorney general. He entered the bureau in 2025 in an unusual co-deputy director arrangement, initially working alongside Dan Bongino. The structure gave the FBI two officials sharing the deputy director role, a position that had traditionally been held by a single person.

Bailey remained at the agency after Bongino’s departure and continued working under Patel. The FBI’s public records also show Bailey participating in several law-enforcement operations and public appearances during his tenure, including a March 2026 press conference concerning Operation Shadow Break.

His departure comes as the FBI continues to undergo changes under Patel, who was appointed director during the Trump administration. Bailey said in his resignation announcement that he expected Patel to continue efforts focused on organizational changes, combating violent crime, protecting national security and strengthening accountability within the bureau.

Bailey also played a role in election-related investigations during his time at the FBI. He was present in January when federal agents executed a search warrant at an election facility in Fulton County, Georgia, as part of an investigation concerning the handling of ballots from the 2020 election.

His resignation comes only weeks before the 2026 US midterm elections, adding another change to the FBI’s senior leadership at a politically sensitive period. Reuters reported that Bailey’s departure follows a little more than a year at the agency.

The FBI has continued to maintain multiple senior leadership positions as it manages investigations ranging from violent crime and public corruption to national security and cyber threats. Bailey’s public appearances during his tenure included statements on federal investigations and cooperation with state and local law-enforcement agencies.

Bailey did not announce a successor in his resignation statement. His departure leaves the bureau to determine how the co-deputy director structure will be handled as the agency continues its broader organizational changes.

The resignation marks the end of Bailey’s relatively short period at the FBI after a career in Missouri government. He is expected to return to Missouri and focus on his family, according to his announcement and reports citing people familiar with his departure.