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FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey Resigns to Return to Missouri
Confirmed
In Short: Andrew Bailey, who served as co-deputy director of the FBI, announced his resignation to return to his family in Missouri.
Andrew Bailey, the co-deputy director of the FBI, announced his resignation on Monday, citing the desire to spend more time with his family in Missouri.
In a social media post, Bailey expressed his pride in the accomplishments of the FBI during his tenure and thanked President Donald Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve.
Bailey, who previously served as Missouri's attorney general, was appointed to the co-deputy director position in August 2025. The role was a first in the bureau's history, initially alongside former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino, and later with Christopher Raia.
Bailey's departure leaves the FBI without a clear successor for the co-deputy director position, as it is unclear if Raia will assume the role alone.
During his time at the FBI, Bailey led election integrity investigations, including the raid of the Fulton County, Georgia, election office in January 2026, where ballots and documents related to the 2020 election were seized.
Bailey's tenure at the FBI was marked by his efforts to reform the bureau and combat violent crime, as well as his commitment to restoring public trust in the institution.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised Bailey's dedication, stating that he was confident the bureau would continue to reform and defend the homeland under his leadership.
The FBI's co-deputy structure was established by Director Kash Patel and remained in place even after Bongino's resignation.
Bailey's resignation comes as the FBI continues to face challenges, including ongoing investigations and legal battles over election integrity and other issues.
The FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Bailey's departure, but the bureau's Rapid Response account on X disputed claims that Bailey was 'annoyed' over recent personnel moves at the bureau's Washington Field Office.
What this adds
Bailey's resignation marks the end of a unique co-deputy director structure that was established by FBI Director Kash Patel.
The FBI's handling of the Fulton County election documents remains under scrutiny, with a federal judge denying a request to return the seized ballots earlier this year.
Background
Andrew Bailey, who served as co-deputy director of the FBI, announced his departure to return to his family in Missouri.
What's confirmed
- "With great pride in what we have accomplished, I am announcing that I am stepping down to return to my family in Missouri," Bailey said.
- "I want to thank Andrew Bailey for his dedicated service to return the FBI to its core mission and fulfill President Trump's promise to make America safe again," Patel said in a social media post.
- "I am confident Director [Kash] 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." Bailey was attorney general of Missouri before taking the FBI post last year.
- He thanked President Donald Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity.
What's still developing
- The arrangement was ill-defined at times, according to sources, and it's unclear if Raia will be the sole No. 2 at the agency now that Bailey has departed.
- A federal judge in May denied Fulton County officials' request to force the FBI to return hundreds of boxes of ballots from the 2020 election that were seized earlier this year.
- As Missouri AG, Bailey led an effort that ended with a consent decree barring social media companies from censoring protected speech and filed a number of lawsuits against the Biden administration over issues such as transgender athletes and immigration and demanded that the Justice Department provide documents and communications regarding investigations into Trump.
- "Thanks Andrew for your tremendous dedication to the mission of this FBI." The FBI referred Fox News Digital to Bailey's social media post., while the White House deferred to Patel's remarks.
- He says the FBI has “delivered historic results.” I want to thank President Trump, @AGToddBlanche, and @FBIDirectorKash for the opportunity to serve in the FBI.
- However, he said he ultimately feels called to return to his family in Missouri.
- Andrew Bailey, who joined the FBI in the new position of “co-deputy director” in September 2025 to work alongside then-Deputy Director Dan Bongino, is stepping aside, two people familiar with the matter told NBC News.
- An internal FBI email said Bailey was leaving for family reasons, the two people familiar with the matter said.
- Published 28 Sept 2026, 16:59 UTC Updated 29 Sept 2026, 02:59 UTC USA · updated 1h ago · 2 min read Bailey resigns as FBI co-deputy director after about one year.