The Justice Department announced Monday that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey will step into the Trump administration as co-deputy director of the FBI, a move that reshapes bureau leadership amid reported internal disputes.

Bailey, who stepped down from his role as attorney general effective September 8, will hold his newly-created position alongside current FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino and serve under FBI Director Kash Patel.

“I am thrilled to welcome Andrew Bailey as Co-Deputy Director of the FBI. He has served as a distinguished attorney general for Missouri and is a decorated war veteran, bringing expertise and dedication to service,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “His leadership and commitment to country will be a tremendous asset as we work together to advance President Trump’s mission. While we know this is undoubtedly a great loss for Missouri, it is a tremendous gain for America.”

Bongino, who has reportedly clashed with Bondi over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, welcomed Bailey to the FBI in a social media post. After the reported tension, President Donald Trump said that Bongino was in “good shape” and that he had complete faith in Bondi.

Welcome. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 https://t.co/nui5E7nWAt

— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) August 18, 2025

Bailey, who has served as Missouri’s attorney general since 2023, reflected on his role in a post on X.

“To Missouri, thank you. My tenure as Attorney General has been the honor of my professional career, but what has made it truly meaningful has been the opportunity to serve my home state,” Bailey wrote. “Together, we have defended the rule of law and safeguarded our freedoms. I am forever grateful.”

Bailey will not need to be confirmed by the Senate to take the role. Missouri Republican Governor Mike Kehoe will appoint Bailey’s replacement in the coming weeks. 

During his time as Missouri’s attorney general, Bailey challenged the Biden administration and filed a variety of culture war suits. For example, he sued multiple companies like International Business Machines (IBM) and Starbucks over diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. He also launched an investigation into the Pediatric Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and sued Planned Parenthood over its promotion of the abortion drug mifepristone. Bailey also sued to stop the student loan cancellation plan pushed by the Biden administration and sued the Department of Homeland Security for data on whether illegal immigrants were being relocated to Missouri. 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Three U.S. Aegis guided-missile destroyers will arrive off the coast of Venezuela in the next 36 hours as part of an effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels, two sources briefed on the matter said on Monday.

President Donald Trump has wanted to use the military to go after Latin American drug gangs that have been designated as global terrorist organizations.

The sources said the ships are the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and the USS Sampson.

A separate U.S. official told Reuters that in total, about 4,000 sailors and Marines are expected to be committed to the Trump administration’s efforts in the southern Caribbean region.

That U.S. official, who was speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the additional commitment of military assets in the broader region would include several P-8 spy planes, warships, and at least one attack submarine.

The official said the process would be ongoing for several months and the plan was for them to operate in international airspace and international waters.

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The naval assets can be used to not just carry out intelligence and surveillance operations, but also as a launching pad for targeted strikes if a decision is made, the official added.

Venezuela’s communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Without referring to the warships, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday in an address that Venezuela will “defend our seas, our skies and our lands.” He alluded to what he called “the outlandish, bizarre threat of a declining empire.”

Trump has made cracking down on drug cartels a central goal of his administration as part of a wider effort to limit migration and secure the U.S. southern border.

The Trump administration in recent months has already deployed at least two warships to help in border security efforts and drug trafficking.

The Trump administration designated Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and other drug gangs, as well as Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua, as global terrorist organizations in February, as it stepped up immigration enforcement against alleged gang members.

The U.S. military has already been increasing its airborne surveillance of Mexican drug cartels to collect intelligence to determine how to best counter their activities.

(Reporting By Steve Holland and Idrees Ali; additional reporting by Vivian Sequera and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Chris Reese and Christian Schmollinger)