FBI Director Christopher Wray announced on Wednesday that he will step down early next year, a decision that follows signals from President-elect Donald Trump about plans to replace him with Kash Patel, a polarizing figure.
Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 to a 10-year term, stated, “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” His resignation comes amid escalating tensions between Trump and the FBI, marking the second consecutive FBI director to leave under Trump. The former president had previously fired James Comey in 2017 over the FBI’s investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Relations between Trump and Wray soured significantly after the FBI’s court-authorized search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022, which led to two federal indictments against Trump over classified documents. Trump has denied any wrongdoing, labeling the investigations as politically motivated. His allies have accused the FBI of being weaponized against conservatives, though no evidence has surfaced to suggest political interference from the Biden administration.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump celebrated Wray’s resignation as “a great day for America,” claiming it would mark the end of what he called the “Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice.”
If confirmed, Kash Patel, who has minimal federal law enforcement experience, is expected to bring sweeping changes to the FBI. Patel has indicated plans to shutter the bureau’s Washington headquarters and overhaul its intelligence-gathering operations.
Wray’s resignation has prompted alarm among Senate Democrats. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin described the situation as a “perilous new era” for the FBI and emphasized its critical role in safeguarding national security.
During his tenure, Wray consistently denied partisan bias, highlighting reforms to the FBI’s warrant processes and its handling of high-profile investigations, including those into the January 6 Capitol riot. His career spans roles as a federal prosecutor and as head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, where he oversaw post-9/11 counterterrorism efforts and the Enron Task Force.
Wray’s resignation will take effect before the end of his term, originally set to expire in 2027.
