How Long Can an FBI Director Serve?

FBI directors are limited to serving no more than 10 years in the position unless granted a special exception by the president and Congress. The 10-year term limit for the Federal Bureau of Investigations chief executive has been in place since 1973.

How Long Can You Be FBI Director?

The term limit for FBI directors was put into place following J. Edgar Hoover's 48 years in the position. Hoover died in office. Afterward, it became clear that he had abused the power he amassed over the course of nearly five decades.

As "The Washington Post" put it:

... 48 years of power concentrated in one person is a recipe for abuse. It was mostly after his death that Hoover’s dark side became common knowledge — the covert black-bag jobs, the warrantless surveillance of civil rights leaders and Vietnam-era peace activists, the use of secret files to bully government officials, the snooping on movie stars and senators, and the rest.

How FBI Directors Get Into Office

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How Many Years Can a President Serve in the White House?

By Tom Murse

FBI directors are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

What the Term Limit Law Says

The 10-year limit was one provision in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The FBI itself acknowledges that the law was passed "in reaction to the extraordinary 48-year term of J. Edgar Hoover." 

Congress passed the law on Oct. 15, 1976, in an attempt to "safeguard against improper political influence and abuses," as Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) once stated.

It reads, in part:

Effective with respect to an individual appointment by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, after June 1, 1973, the term of service of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall be ten years. A Director may not serve more than one 10-year term.

Exceptions

There are exceptions to the rule. FBI director Robert Mueller, appointed to the post by President George W. Bush just before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, served 12 years in the post. President Barack Obama sought a two-year extension to Mueller's term, given the nation's heightened concern about another attack.

"It wasn’t a request I made lightly, and I know Congress didn’t grant it lightly. But at a time when transitions were underway at the CIA and the Pentagon and, given the threats facing our nation, we felt it was critical to have Bob’s steady hand and strong leadership at the bureau," Obama said.

Source

Ackerman, Kenneth D. "Five myths about J. Edgard Hoover." The Washington Post, November 9, 2011.

Grassley, Senator Chuck. "Grassley comments on President's announcement to seek two-year extension to the term of FBI Director." United States Senate, May 12, 2011.

"Public Law 94-503-Oct. 15, 1976." 94th Congress. GovInfo, U.S. Government Publishing Office, October 15, 1976.