Christopher Raia, who has served as head of the FBI’s New York field office, has officially been tapped to take over as the bureau’s new deputy director, replacing Dan Bongino. The announcement came Friday via an FBI spokesperson, confirming Raia will report to Washington on Monday to begin his new role.
A 20-year veteran of the bureau, Raia previously served as the FBI’s top counterterrorism official before taking the reins in New York. He will now join FBI Director Kash Patel and Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey in leading the bureau’s 30,000-plus workforce. The three-person leadership model, introduced after Bailey’s appointment in August, will remain intact.
That structure was created in response to internal conflict and whistleblower reports over the bureau’s prior mishandling of sensitive investigations, including the botched Epstein probe. The Trump administration’s shake-up of bureau leadership in recent months has been sweeping and unapologetic — including the forced retirement of James Dennehy, Raia’s predecessor, and a new internal mandate for full transparency with DOJ leadership on politically sensitive investigations.
Raia’s appointment continues that trend of installing career professionals with clean records and operational experience. His leadership in counterterrorism and the New York office placed him at the center of high-profile international cases and made him a trusted asset within the agency. Still, his promotion leaves a major vacancy in New York, the FBI’s most prominent field office, and no replacement has yet been named.
Dan Bongino, a longtime Trump ally and former Secret Service agent, announced in December that he would step down from his FBI post in January. His time at the bureau was brief but high-profile, given his sharp political commentary and vocal criticism of previous FBI leadership.
“I want to thank President Trump, AG Pam Bondi, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose,” Bongino posted on X. “Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you.”
When asked about Bongino’s departure, President Trump told reporters: “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show.”
Bongino’s departure was expected, and insiders say it was amicable. His appointment was always seen as transitional, helping restore credibility to the bureau after years of public skepticism and politicization. His replacement by Raia signals a return to steady, operational leadership — albeit within a Trump-aligned structure that still reflects major reforms from the top down.
With the Patel-Bailey-Raia trio now in place, the Trump administration’s vision for a reformed FBI appears to be fully operational.
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