Former President Donald Trump has appointed Dan Bongino as the FBI’s Deputy Director.

Lila Verma Image: Gettyimage

Bongino has a background as a Secret Service agent and a New York police officer.

[{"selector":"#anim-23c432ed-4d48-4ee6-885e-fd25003ce4e9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4e261e9-4857-4c54-aacc-9764d7f23502","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-76471217-623c-4cca-bc63-4afe098b89cd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image: Gettyimage

He gained prominence as a conservative political commentator and podcast host.

[{"selector":"#anim-890f1cde-7c01-4f99-ac67-f40c1ac1a76b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28472425-c671-4b3c-8e64-587260d26ef7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bcbf2507-e39b-411b-b656-e37044a6a763","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] image: Gettyimage

His selection, along with FBI Director Kash Patel, reflects Trump’s impact on the agency.

[{"selector":"#anim-4a86ffa3-f096-4321-bf91-dd81d64c3079 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-857b7009-0ac2-4162-85a2-41520b855b15","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-88540bce-045a-4f7b-96e9-59e672e3e634","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image: Gettyimage

This is the first time someone from a political background has taken this position in the FBI.

[{"selector":"#anim-406ce3b9-b86b-41d7-9d2b-b87a30254be5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db70d0f7-09ab-4a6c-ba0a-1b31a5a9c548","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99be8ddc-36d8-42a5-a09e-b11a56d90f1b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image: Gettyimage

The appointment has sparked both praise and controversy in political and law enforcement circles.

[{"selector":"#anim-ae4cac8b-55ef-4227-8556-de21d11128f9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-6.600000065279133%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44559a9d-6c1d-42c0-b0a0-c088dd494874","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02ae3508-95d9-4f3a-9096-fe0a990299b6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image: Gettyimage

With Attorney General Pam Bondi, the new leadership aims to restructure federal law enforcement.

[{"selector":"#anim-5a8eba2d-6baa-42fa-a63d-10ebd95e68ef [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8fcf7cc-991f-4500-8abe-05ace363524d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-380271fd-b1c7-4538-a4ee-b8118e2f6a3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image: Gettyimage

Bongino previously ran for Congress in Maryland and Florida but was unsuccessful.

[{"selector":"#anim-3353721b-ed5e-4504-abc2-8eaee12282a0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75010ba3-2a6a-482a-a875-3b182a2e17dc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3479e43-783f-449e-9693-bd7e6e3e5539","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image: Gettyimage

Trump’s move signals a stronger push for influence over federal investigative bodies.

[{"selector":"#anim-91d46f56-6ca9-4bb4-ac95-75184ba4470c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-204d95e2-ba50-42f9-b1c3-9fd84cb7942d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01a0cf7e-9326-43c9-92cd-246ab0e9ca22","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image: Gettyimage