The internet is buzzing with a single question: did dan bongino quit? It’s a valid thing to wonder because the man is everywhere and nowhere all at once. If you’ve followed his trajectory from Secret Service agent to media firebrand, and then into the halls of the FBI, you know his career moves aren't exactly quiet.
Well, he did quit. Specifically, Dan Bongino officially resigned from his role as the Deputy Director of the FBI on January 3, 2026. This move capped off a whirlwind year that saw him go from a Rumble livestreaming king to a high-ranking federal official, only to return to the private sector less than twelve months later.
The FBI Departure: Why Dan Bongino Quit the Bureau
Honestly, the rumors about him leaving started months before the actual paperwork was filed. After being tapped for the role by the Trump administration in early 2025, Bongino hit the ground running alongside Director Kash Patel. But by the summer of 2025, cracks were showing.
He didn't hold back about the personal toll. During a May appearance on Fox & Friends, he got surprisingly candid, saying he "gave up everything" for the job. He was living in D.C. while his wife, Paula, remained in Florida. Being separated from his family and staring at "four walls all day" clearly wasn't the lifestyle he wanted long-term.
Then there was the internal friction. Rumors swirled about a massive disagreement with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Bongino and Patel reportedly pushed for more transparency than the DOJ was ready to give. It got so heated that by December 17, 2025, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce he’d be leaving in January to return to "civilian life."
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President Trump even joked about the exit, telling reporters, "Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show." Turns out, the President was right.
Looking Back: Did Dan Bongino Quit Fox News?
Before the FBI stint, the biggest "quit" story was his exit from Fox News in April 2023. This wasn't a firing. It wasn't a "scandal" in the traditional sense. It was a classic contract dispute.
Bongino hosted Unfiltered with Dan Bongino on Saturday nights, and it was a ratings powerhouse. However, when it came time to renew, the two sides couldn't agree on the numbers or the terms. He was very clear on his podcast at the time: "It’s not some big conspiracy. There’s no acrimony... we just couldn't come to terms on an extension."
He left the network on his own terms, choosing not to do a final "farewell" show. That set the stage for his massive expansion on Rumble, where he grew his audience to a point where he became a dominant force in independent media.
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What's Next? The Relaunch of The Dan Bongino Show
If you're looking for where he is now, mark February 2, 2026, on your calendar. That is the official relaunch date for The Dan Bongino Show.
This isn't just a minor comeback. He’s signed a massive deal with Cumulus Media’s Westwood One and Rumble.
- The Format: A two-hour daily podcast (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET).
- The Platform: Exclusive video livestreaming on Rumble.
- The Content: Expect "loud and obnoxious" Dan (his words) tackling politics and the "grifters" he saw from the inside.
Interestingly, he isn't returning to syndicated terrestrial radio this time. It’s a digital-first strategy. He’s betting big on the "Bongino Army" following him to the podcast space exclusively.
The Bottom Line on the Bongino "Quitting" Narrative
So, did dan bongino quit? Yes, twice in three years. He quit Fox News because the contract wasn't right, and he quit the FBI because the bureaucracy was stifling and the personal cost was too high.
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He’s a man who clearly values his independence—and his Florida lifestyle—over a government title or a corporate paycheck. His year in the FBI gave him a "perspective you can only get from the inside," which he’s already promised to use as ammunition for his new show.
If you want to keep up with his return, you’ll need to migrate to Rumble or your favorite podcast app. The era of Bongino as a federal official is over; the era of Bongino as the unfiltered commentator is officially back.
What to do next:
- Download the Rumble app if you want to watch the live video version of his new show starting February 2nd.
- Search for The Dan Bongino Show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to ensure you're subscribed to the correct feed for the February relaunch.
- Follow his official social media accounts for "behind-the-scenes" updates as he transitions back to his Florida studio.