The Announcement and the Reason
On Monday, Andrew Bailey declared he is leaving his position as FBI co-deputy director. The former Missouri attorney general served in the high-ranking post for exactly one year. He stated clearly that his departure is to return to his family in Missouri. Bailey made this announcement on social media on September 28, 2026. This marks the end of his tenure under Director Kash Patel.
Per The Daily Caller, Bailey thanked President Trump and other leaders for the chance to serve. He noted that the FBI delivered historic results under current leadership. His post praised the mission to Make America Safe Again. The resignation takes effect on October 2, according to sources who spoke to Bloomberg Law. Bailey is a father of four who left the bureau to be with his loved ones.
Leadership Reactions and Internal Reports
FBI Director Kash Patel responded quickly to the news with a public statement. In a statement, Patel said, “I want to thank Andrew Bailey for his dedicated service to return the FBI to its core mission.” He added that Bailey’s work instituting critical reforms will live on. Patel remarked, “Andrew’s leadership at the FBI will be missed but we are grateful he answered the call to serve.” This praise came directly from the top of the bureau.
Other reports offer more detail on the internal climate. According to reports, Patel and Bailey sometimes went long periods without talking to one another. Claims of friction were false, a source familiar with the matter told the Washington Examiner. The source called the narrative about Bailey being “annoyed” by personnel decisions “complete bulls*.” An internal FBI email confirmed the move was for family reasons, per people who spoke to RedState.
Background on the Unique Role
Bailey joined the FBI leadership team in August 2025 during the Trump administration. The administration announced a novel arrangement where Bailey served as co-deputy director. He initially shared the role with Dan Bongino, who left in January 2026. Christopher Raia later succeeded Bongino to share the position with Bailey. This unusual structure meant two officials held the second-highest rank at the same time.
Before joining the bureau, Bailey served as Missouri’s Republican attorney general. He held that office from January 2023 until September 2025. His time at the FBI included leading election investigations within the organization. The Washington Examiner noted his exit follows the reassignment of two senior counterterrorism supervisors. Those supervisors were moved after an investigation into harassing phone calls to Katie Miller. Darren Cox, the Washington Field Office chief, said the decision was made locally.
Bailey expressed confidence in the future direction of the agency. He also noted the need to ensure strong organizational accountability. His departure leaves the bureau with another change in its high-level structure. Patel continues to face questions from Democrats over various bureau policies and travel. The timeline shows a clear shift in personnel just as the administration pushes its agenda forward.
