FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey Resigns After One Year

One of FBI Director Kash Patel’s senior deputies is leaving the bureau, creating another opening near the top of the federal law enforcement agency. Andrew Bailey, a former Missouri attorney general who has served as one of the FBI’s co-deputy directors, announced that he will step down from his position.

Bailey said his final day with the bureau will be Friday, Oct. 2. “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.

The announcement brings Bailey’s relatively brief tenure at the FBI to an end after he joined the agency in 2025. Before moving to Washington, Bailey served as Missouri’s attorney general and built a national profile through several prominent legal and political disputes.

He later became part of Director Kash Patel’s leadership team as the bureau underwent a broader restructuring. Bailey served in an unusual co-deputy director arrangement, placing him among the highest-ranking officials inside the FBI.

His departure comes during a period of continued personnel and organizational changes at the bureau. Since becoming FBI director in February 2025, Patel has pushed to reshape the agency’s priorities and leadership structure.

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Patel has emphasized violent crime, counterterrorism, national security threats and internal accountability while arguing that the bureau should avoid politically motivated enforcement.

Bailey publicly supported those efforts and praised Patel as he announced his departure. “I am confident Director 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 said.

Bailey also thanked President Donald Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche and Patel for giving him the opportunity to serve in the administration.

During his time with the FBI, Bailey appeared alongside federal and state law enforcement officials during several operations and investigations.

He also helped promote the bureau’s increased focus on violent crime as Patel’s leadership team sought to change both the agency’s priorities and public image.

The FBI has faced sustained political scrutiny in recent years, particularly over allegations that certain investigations and enforcement decisions were influenced by partisan considerations.

Patel and his supporters have argued that changes are necessary to rebuild trust among Americans who have become skeptical of the institution, while critics have closely scrutinized the scope and consequences of the restructuring.

Bailey did not indicate that he had been removed or pressured to resign.

Instead, he said the decision was motivated by his desire to return to Missouri and spend additional time with his family.

Despite his departure, Bailey expressed confidence in the FBI’s direction and praised the work accomplished during his tenure.

His resignation now gives Patel another significant leadership position to fill as the bureau continues undergoing changes at its highest levels.