Andrew Bailey, who served as one of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s two deputy directors, announced his resignation on Monday after just over a year in the role. Bailey, a former Missouri attorney general and known supporter of former President Donald Trump, said he is stepping down to return to Missouri and spend more time with his family.

Bailey was appointed co-deputy director in August 2025, an unusual arrangement since the FBI has traditionally had only one deputy director at a time. He initially served alongside Dan Bongino, a conservative media personality and former Secret Service officer, who left the bureau earlier this year and was replaced by Christopher Raia, a longtime FBI agent. Bailey remained in his position under Director Kash Patel, who took over leadership of the FBI amid a series of organizational changes.

In a post on social media, Bailey expressed pride in the accomplishments achieved under his tenure and voiced confidence in Patel's leadership, citing ongoing efforts to reform the FBI, combat violent crime, defend the homeland, and restore public trust. Patel also acknowledged Bailey's service and credited him with instituting critical reforms.

Bailey’s time at the FBI was marked by his relatively low public profile but notable involvement in politically sensitive operations. He was present during the execution of a search warrant in January at the Fulton County elections center in Georgia as part of an FBI investigation into alleged irregularities in the 2020 presidential election. The bureau is probing whether certain deficiencies in vote tabulation in that county could amount to criminal wrongdoing. Bailey’s presence at the scene was unusual, as deputy directors rarely oversee routine investigative actions directly.

Bailey’s appointment and tenure were also notable because neither he nor Bongino had prior FBI experience—a departure from historical norms where the deputy director has been a career bureau official. Bailey’s background includes a series of legal actions aligned with Trump’s political agenda during his time as Missouri’s attorney general, such as lawsuits challenging corporate diversity policies, transgender healthcare access, and so-called sanctuary city rules.

The FBI has undergone significant personnel changes in recent months. Reports indicate that veteran agents in key divisions have been transferred or dismissed, sometimes amid disagreements over investigative priorities. One recent example involved the reassignment of the Washington field office’s top counterterrorism agents due to perceived slow progress in a probe involving threats against Katie Miller, a podcaster connected to Trump circles.

Bailey’s departure adds to the ongoing leadership shifts at the FBI during a period of heightened political scrutiny and internal reorganization. While his resignation was officially framed as a family decision, it follows a series of controversies and the rapid turnover of senior bureau officials. The FBI continues to navigate the challenges of maintaining operational integrity and public confidence amid a polarized political environment.