WASHINGTON — FBI Director Christopher Wray informed bureau staff on Wednesday that he intends to step down at the conclusion of the Biden administration, when President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.
According to prepared remarks, Wray stated, “After weeks of careful consideration, I’ve decided the right thing for the Bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current Administration in January and then step down.” “I want to maintain the focus on our purpose and the vital work you undertake every day for the American people. This, in my opinion, is the greatest approach to uphold the ideals and concepts that are so crucial to the way we carry out our work without drawing the Bureau further into the conflict.
As part of a post-Watergate policy meant to reduce FBI directors’ reliance on presidents, Trump has already said that he will propose Kash Patel for the office of director of the FBI, which normally carries a 10-year tenure.
The current plan is for Christopher Wray to remain as FBI Director until January 20, when the new administration takes over, a senior FBI official told NBC News.
Paul Abbate, the current Deputy Director of the FBI, will then be appointed acting director and remain in that role until a new FBI director is confirmed.
Trump recently told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that he wasn’t “thrilled” with Wray, claiming that Wray “invaded Mar-a-Lago”—a reference to the FBI’s 2022 search for classified documents that resulted in Trump’s 2023 indictment on seven criminal charges—and that he wanted someone in place to “straighten” out the bureau.
“I mean, it would sort of seem pretty obvious that if Kash gets in, he s going to be taking somebody s place, right?” When asked if he would fire Wray if he didn’t quit on his own, Trump responded as follows.
Trump appointed Wray, a Republican, as FBI director in 2017 after dismissing James Comey. Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel to look into the Trump campaign and Russian meddling in the 2016 election as a result of Comey’s departure. Wray’s term would normally end in 2027, but Mueller is the only FBI director to have held the position for the entire entire 10-year post-Watergate norm. Comey is one of just two FBI directors who have been fired.
In the nearly ten years since Trump descended the golden escalator and declared his intention to run for president of the United States in 2015, Republican trust in the FBI has fallen precipitously. Trump and his supporters on Capitol Hill and in the conservative media have painted the FBI as a bastion of liberalism and the home of the “deep state” out to destroy him, despite the fact that the bureau has historically been a generally conservative organization full of law enforcement and military veterans (who have an advantage in the FBI hiring process).
Even while the majority of the FBI’s work is outside of everyday politics, political cases—many of which involve Trump—have dominated public discourse about the bureau’s work in recent years.
On his social media platform, Trump stated that Wray’s exit would be a great day for America because it would put a stop to the weaponization of the US Department of Justice.
Trump wrote of the man he selected to lead the FBI after dismissing Comey, saying, “I just don’t know what happened to him.” For all Americans, we will now reinstate the Rule of Law. Under Christopher Wray’s direction, the FBI unlawfully searched my house without a warrant, tried hard to indict and impeach me, and has done all in its power to sabotage America’s progress and future.
Wray stated on Wednesday that his choice to step down was not simple.
“I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what s right for the FBI,” he stated. Given the direction of the threats, it is obvious that our efforts to protect Americans and enforce the Constitution will continue to be crucial. And our dedication to always doing the right thing in the right way is something that cannot and must not alter.”
“Our adherence to our core values, our dedication to independence and objectivity, and our defense of the rule of law those fundamental aspects of who we are must never change,” Wray said. “The FBI’s true strength lies in the significance of our mission, the caliber of our personnel, and their commitment to serve above self-interest. It is an indestructible foundation that has endured and is difficult to move. And it is because of you, the FBI’s men and women, that the Bureau will continue to thrive for a very long time.
Merrick Garland, the attorney general, stated that Wray has “served our country honorably and with integrity for decades, including for seven years as the Director of the FBI under presidents of both parties.”
Garland went on to say that the FBI director is “responsible for protecting the independence of the FBI from inappropriate influence in its criminal investigations,” adding that the agency’s independence is “central to preserving the rule of law and to protecting the freedoms we as Americans hold dear.”
The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) president, Natalie Bara, thanked Wray in a statement for his leadership “through challenging times with a steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe.”
According to Bara, FBI special agents “will always be focused on our vital mission — protecting communities, upholding the U.S. Constitution, and protecting this great nation.” This dedication lies at the heart of our identity as Special Agents, and it remains unwavering even when the Bureau’s leadership or a presidential administration changes.”
Bara stated that the FBIAA “welcomes the opportunity to meet with President-elect Trump s team to discuss the perspectives and priorities of rank-and-file FBI Special Agents.”
While thanking Wray “for his service to our nation, and all the men and women of the FBI for their continued efforts to protect our security and liberty,” Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., cautioned that the FBI will “soon embark on a perilous new era with serious questions about its future.”
Wray’s “departure is an opportunity for a new era of transparency and accountability at the FBI,” according to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who had written a letter this week pushing Wray to “move on” from this position.
According to a person with knowledge of the Trump transition team’s thinking, the group “is confident in Kash Patel and confident he will be ready to serve the American people on Day One.”
Ahead of an anticipated confirmation vote next year, Patel met with senators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. He expressed his excitement for “a very smooth transition,” saying, “I’ll be ready to go on day one.” In addition to restoring integrity and law and order at the FBI, I hope to gain the senators’ faith and confidence in the advice and consent process. They have been fantastic.”
“I have a lot of respect for the FBI’s rank-and-file, and they have a lot of respect for me,” Trump stated on Truth Social. They share my desire for these changes, but more significantly, the American people are calling for a robust yet just system of justice. Now, our FBI will return, which is what we want. In order to start the process of “Making the FBI Great Again,” I eagerly await Kash Patel’s confirmation.
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