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FBI Director Christopher Wray has announced he will resign when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

What’s the deal: During a town hall meeting on Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray announced his plans to resign, citing a desire to protect the agency’s mission and values amid escalating political scrutiny. Wray explained his decision came after “weeks of careful thought,” stating, “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day. 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.”

Wray acknowledged the difficulty of leaving the role, saying, “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me. 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.” Wray added, “The importance of our work — keeping Americans safe and upholding the Constitution — will not change. And what absolutely cannot, must not change is our commitment to doing the right thing, the right way, every time.”

Attorney General reacts: In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, “Chris 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. He has led the FBI’s efforts to aggressively confront the broad range of threats facing our country — from nation-state adversaries and foreign and domestic terrorism to violent crime, cybercrime, and financial crime.” He continued, “The Director of the FBI is responsible for leading the federal law enforcement agency that serves as the connective tissue among the intelligence community, state and local law enforcement agencies across the country, and our international law enforcement partners. And the Director of the FBI is responsible for protecting the independence of the FBI from inappropriate influence in its criminal investigations. That independence is central to preserving the rule of law and to protecting the freedoms we as Americans hold dear. Director Wray has done that job with integrity and skill. He has my gratitude.”

Trump reacts: In a statement, President-Elect Donald Trump said, “The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice. I just don’t know what happened to him. We will now restore the Rule of Law for all Americans. Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America. They have used their vast powers to threaten and destroy many innocent Americans, some of which will never be able to recover from what has been done to them.”

He added, “As everyone knows, I have great respect for the rank-and-file of the FBI, and they have great respect for me. They want to see these changes every bit as much as I do but, more importantly, the American People are demanding a strong, but fair, System of Justice. We want our FBI back, and that will now happen. I look forward to Kash Patel’s confirmation, so that the process of Making the FBI Great Again can begin. Thank you!”

This all comes as President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Kash Patel to replace Wray as FBI Director. Patel, a former Department of Defense official and a close Trump ally, played a significant role in efforts to discredit the FBI’s Russia investigation during his time working for House Republicans. Known for his loyalty to Trump, Patel has publicly supported the president’s claims of FBI misconduct and has called for reforms to address what he describes as political bias within the agency. His nomination has sparked controversy, with critics voicing concerns about the potential for increased partisanship under his leadership.