FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey Resigns After 1-Year Tenure

FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey has resigned roughly one year after taking the post, according to Fox News, which reported the departure on Sept. 28, 2026. Bailey cited family reasons and said he plans to return to Missouri.

Why is Bailey leaving the FBI?

Bailey's own explanation, relayed by Fox News, centers on family circumstances rather than any stated policy dispute. He is returning to Missouri, the state where he built his prior career, though the report does not specify a next job or start date.

What did Bailey say about Director Kash Patel?

In his departure statement, Bailey said he is confident Director Kash Patel will continue the bureau's reform efforts and work to restore public trust in the FBI, per Fox News. The statement offers no criticism of Patel's leadership and frames the exit as amicable.

By the numbers: how long did Bailey serve?

Two figures anchor this departure. First, roughly 12 months: that is the length of time Bailey held the co-deputy director post before stepping down, per the Fox News report. Second, two: the FBI under Patel has operated with a co-deputy director structure rather than a single deputy director, meaning Bailey's exit leaves one of two parallel deputy slots to be filled or restructured. Fox News does not report a replacement name or an effective date for the vacancy, so those figures are not included here.

Does this fit a broader pattern of FBI leadership turnover?

The Fox News report frames Bailey's exit as a single personnel move rather than part of a documented wave of departures, and it does not cite turnover rates, prior resignation counts, or comparative tenure data for other bureau officials. Absent that sourcing, this brief does not draw a trend line beyond the one data point available: a roughly one-year tenure in a role created under Patel's leadership.

What happens next at the bureau?

The Fox News story does not name an interim or permanent successor for the co-deputy director post, nor does it specify whether the FBI will fill the position immediately or restructure the office. Patel remains director. Any announcement on a successor would come from the FBI or the Justice Department, and this brief will be updated if that reporting becomes available.

What to watch

• Whether the FBI names a successor for the vacated co-deputy director post, and on what timeline.
• Whether Bailey takes a public or private-sector role in Missouri.
• Whether additional bureau personnel changes follow, which would allow for a clearer turnover comparison than the single data point currently available.

This brief relies on a single sourced report; HTT News will update figures and sourcing as the FBI or Justice Department issue further statements.

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