FBI Appoints Veteran Agent Christopher Raia as Co-Deputy Director Following Dan Bongino's Departure

Washington, D.C. – January 12, 2026 – The Federal Bureau of Investigation has named Christopher Raia, a seasoned career agent and former head of the New York Field Office, as co-deputy director, filling the vacancy left by Dan Bongino's recent exit from the role.

FBI Director Kash Patel selected Raia to succeed Bongino, who stepped down earlier this month after a brief and often tumultuous tenure that began in March 2025. Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and prominent conservative podcaster with no prior FBI experience, announced his departure in December 2025, citing personal reasons including the demanding hours and time away from family. He officially left the bureau on January 3, 2026, and is set to relaunch his podcast on February 2.

Raia, who joined the FBI in 2003 after serving as a Coast Guard officer, brings over two decades of experience to the position. He most recently served as assistant director in charge of the New York Field Office—one of the bureau's largest and most prestigious divisions—starting in April 2025. Prior to that, he held key roles including deputy assistant director in the Counterterrorism Division at headquarters, where he oversaw international counterterrorism programs. Raia also contributed to high-profile responses, such as the investigation into the deadly truck attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day 2025.

The appointment restores a long-standing tradition of placing a career FBI agent in the deputy director role, which serves as the agency's chief operating officer overseeing day-to-day management and more than 30,000 employees. Bongino's selection last year broke with this norm and drew criticism from some within the bureau, including the FBI Agents Association.

Raia will serve as co-deputy director alongside Andrew Bailey, the former Missouri attorney general who was appointed to the position in August 2025. This unusual dual-deputy structure, implemented during Bongino's time, is expected to continue for now, though questions linger about long-term leadership arrangements and who will replace Raia in New York.

The move comes amid ongoing reforms under Patel and follows a period of significant internal changes at the FBI. Multiple outlets, including CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Examiner, and the Associated Press, have described Raia as a respected insider chosen to bring stability and operational expertise back to the No. 2 spot.

Bongino, meanwhile, has expressed gratitude for his time at the bureau, calling it "the honor of a lifetime," and hinted at sharing insights from his experience upon returning to media. His departure and replacement underscore the rapid shifts in the agency's leadership during the early months of President Trump's second term. Raia is expected to begin his new duties in Washington as early as this week. 17GEN4.com