FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate Retires on Trump's Inauguration Day, Brian Driscoll Named Acting Director as Kash Patel Awaits Confirmation

Jan 20, 2025, 06:40 PM

Paul Abbate, who served as the FBI's deputy director for nearly four years and had been expected to take over as acting director following the resignation of Christopher Wray, announced his retirement from the bureau after 28 years of service. His retirement was effective immediately on the day President Donald Trump was inaugurated, leaving uncertainty about the leadership of the FBI as Kash Patel, Trump's nominee for FBI director and a Trump loyalist, awaits Senate confirmation. Abbate's departure was communicated through an email to senior executives, in which he expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition for the FBI and thanked his colleagues for their service. The FBI has a succession plan in place, and Brian Driscoll has been named to serve as acting director in the interim.