Missouri native Andrew Bailey, a former state attorney general and senior FBI official, told agency staff on Monday that he is stepping down to spend more time with his family. Bailey highlighted the “historic results” achieved during his tenure in advancing the mission to “Make America Safe Again.”

Background and Role

Bailey was hired last year in a unique “co‑deputy” arrangement with Director Kash Patel, splitting the traditional deputy director role. The experiment followed a rift between former deputy Dan Bongino and former Attorney General Pam Bondi over handling files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. While the co‑deputy model persisted, it remains unclear if the FBI will revert to a single career deputy director.

Trump Administration Connection

Bailey was once considered for the top FBI job and interviewed with President Trump at Mar‑a‑Lago in 2024. Although Trump ultimately chose Patel, the administration’s focus on law‑enforcement integrity and election‑security initiatives continued under Patel’s leadership.

Resignation Details

In a social‑media post, Bailey expressed confidence that Director Patel will keep reforming the FBI, combat violent crime, and defend the homeland. Patel responded publicly, thanking Bailey for his service and reaffirming the Trump administration’s mandates for a safer nation.

Implications

The departure marks the latest change in the FBI’s senior leadership amid ongoing efforts to strengthen national security and election‑security measures championed by the Trump administration. Observers note that the agency’s historic 38,000‑person workforce will continue to operate under Patel’s direction while the deputy structure remains under review.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.