January 1, FBI Taps Raia for Top Spot After Bongino Exit

Wyatt’s Take

• Christopher Raia, longtime agent, steps up as FBI co-deputy director.
• Raia replaces Dan Bongino, who left his post and returns to radio.
• Leadership changes stir attention in a crucial national agency.

FBI veteran Christopher Raia, who led the New York City Field Office, will become the agency’s co-deputy director starting Monday. The FBI chose Raia to work alongside Andrew Bailey after Dan Bongino announced his departure.

The bureau praised Raia’s over 20 years of experience in law enforcement and highlighted his career across many specialized areas.

Raia, 49, began his service after graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and serving as a Coast Guard officer in Florida. He joined the FBI in 2003 in Texas, taking on cases involving violent crime, gangs, and white-collar offenses. He also coordinated the Safe Streets Task Force.

In 2012, he worked as a program manager in the International Terrorism Operations Section, overseeing cases in several field offices across the South.

By 2014, Raia had moved up to senior supervisory resident agent in Texas. He later oversaw the Violent Crime and National Security branches in Houston before heading back to Washington, D.C. for executive positions.

By 2024, Raia led all international counterterrorism programs for the agency as deputy assistant director of the Counterterrorism Division.

Dan Bongino, first chosen for co-deputy director by President Donald Trump, leaves federal service after serving since February. He plans to return to his radio show in February, saying on X,

“Working in the administration was the experience of a lifetime.”

Full details here

Wyatt Matters

Leadership at big agencies like the FBI matters for ordinary folks who want safe streets and honest government. New faces bring new priorities, and Middle America is watching to see if this change brings better results.