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He went on to describe the exhausting daily routine shared by himself and FBI Director Kash Patel, painting a picture of nonstop work and pressure.
“Our offices are linked. He turns on the faucet, I hear it. He gets there at like six o’clock in the morning. He doesn’t leave till seven at night. You know, I’m in there at 7:30 in the morning,” Bongino continued.
But it was Bongino’s description of the personal cost that truly struck a chord with viewers.
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“He uses the gym, I work out in my apartment, but I stare at these four walls all day in DC, you know, by myself divorced from my wife – not divorced, but I mean separated-divorced, and it’s hard,” Bongino continued. “I mean, you know, we love each other and it’s hard to be apart.”
Those remarks fueled speculation that Bongino’s exit had far more to do with family sacrifice than political infighting, though tensions inside the Justice Department clearly played a role as well.
Reports have indicated that Bongino had been privately discussing plans to leave months before the announcement. According to MS NOW, Bongino told associates he intended to exit early next year and had already begun clearing out his office. USA Today later confirmed those reports.
President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged Bongino’s departure before the former deputy director addressed it himself on social media. In a post on X, Bongino expressed gratitude to Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve.
“Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you,” Bongino wrote.
Trump, for his part, offered high praise when asked about Bongino by reporters earlier in the week.
“Dan did a great job,” Trump said, noting that Bongino was eager to return to his podcast and media career.
Bongino’s departure comes amid reported friction between FBI leadership and Attorney General Pam Bondi, particularly over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Media reports have claimed Bongino clashed with Bondi after the Justice Department declined to release additional Epstein-related documents.
Before joining the FBI, Bongino had been one of the bureau’s most vocal critics, especially regarding Epstein’s death and the possibility of a cover-up involving powerful elites. After assuming his leadership role, Bongino stated he reviewed the files and concluded Epstein died by suicide and did not maintain a client list.
In July, the FBI and Justice Department announced no further Epstein materials would be released, citing an exhaustive internal review. That decision infuriated many grassroots supporters who had once championed Bongino as a truth-teller willing to take on the system.
MAGA influencer Laura Loomer later claimed on X that both Bongino and Patel were furious over how the matter was handled, suggesting internal divisions ran deeper than publicly acknowledged.
Since March, Bongino played a key role in reshaping federal law enforcement under Trump-appointed leadership. Several senior FBI officials were removed, including a former acting director and other high-ranking figures accused by the administration of politicizing the bureau. Some of those officials have since filed lawsuits alleging wrongful termination.
Bongino’s background in the Secret Service and law enforcement helped make him a trusted figure among conservatives who believed he could help clean up Washington. Now, with his exit looming, supporters are left wondering whether his departure signals a deeper struggle between reformers and the entrenched bureaucracy.
One thing is clear. Bongino did not leave quietly, and his words suggest that service at the highest levels of government comes with costs few Americans ever see.
