The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is facing criticism for allegedly breaking its hiring protocol for FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino. 

ProPublica, in a new report, is claiming that the FBI did not conduct a background check on Bongino, which would be almost unheard of if true.

Bongino, as we will see, is already pushing back on this claim.

All,
I’m sincerely sorry for wasting your time on a weekend with nonsensical media fairytales, and I do realize the act of addressing this puts even more eyes on it.
However, I work for you all, the American citizenry, on our nations’ top national security issues, and I can’t… pic.twitter.com/4P0M6h8hn9

— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) November 15, 2025

The allegations

ProPublica's report claims that FBI Director Kash Patel essentially broke the rules for Bongino.

It reads:

FBI Director Kash Patel granted waivers to Deputy Director Dan Bongino and two other newly hired senior FBI staff members, exempting them from passing polygraph exams normally required to gain access to America’s most sensitive classified information, according to a former senior FBI official and several other government officials.

The outlet does use anonymous sources, claiming that "ProPublica spoke with four people familiar with the polygraph issues, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation . . ."

ProPublica goes on to write, "ProPublica could not determine whether Bongino sat for a polygraph exam or what its results were."

It also reports that, "when ProPublica sought comment from the FBI, the agency denied that Bongino or the other senior staff members failed polygraph tests."

"Nonsensical media fairytales"

This is how Bongino describes ProPublica's report.

On social media, the deputy director wrote:

All, I’m sincerely sorry for wasting your time on a weekend with nonsensical media fairytales, and I do realize the act of addressing this puts even more eyes on it. However, I work for you all, the American citizenry, on our nations’ top national security issues, and I can’t allow false headlines like this to stand.

Bongino goes on to try to discredit the report.

He writes:

Claiming I was hired “with no background check” is just a lie. It’s a complete fabrication. I held a security clearance, while protecting Democrat and Republican presidents, for over ten years. And all of the background check requirements for my current position as Deputy Director of the FBI have been met. Those are simple facts.

Bongino concluded by once again apologizing and by writing, "I’m honored to serve in the Trump administration alongside Director Patel as your Deputy Director, and I will continue to hit the gas pedal on crushing violent crime and securing the Homeland."