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WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought,” roughly three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations, including two that led to separate indictments of Trump last year. Wray’s intended resignation was not unexpected considering that Trump had settled on Patel to be director and had repeatedly aired his ire at Wray, including in a television interview broadcast Sunday. But his departure is nonetheless a reflection of how Trump's norm-breaking style has reshaped Washington, with the president-elect yet again flouting tradition by moving to replace an FBI director before his term was up and Wray — by resigning before he could be fired — opting to avert a collision with the incoming Trump administration that he said would have plunged the FBI into political fighting. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Wray told agency employees. "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.” The resignation would clear the way for Patel's ascension, assuming he is confirmed by the Senate. A White House staffer during Trump's first term, Patel has insisted that the federal government should be rid of “conspirators” against Trump. The comments have stirred alarm that he could seek to use the FBI for retribution against perceived enemies despite longstanding guardrails meant to ensure investigations have a proper basis. It's extremely rare for FBI directors to be ousted from their jobs before the completion of their 10-year terms, a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations. But Trump has done it twice, placing Wray in the job in 2017 after firing Director James Comey amid an investigation into ties between Russia and the Republican president’s campaign. Despite having appointed Wray, Trump had telegraphed his anger with the FBI director on multiple occasions. Trump said in the recent interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “I can’t say I’m thrilled with him. He invaded my home,” a reference to the FBI search of his Florida property , Mar-a-Lago, two years ago for classified documents from Trump’s first term as president. That search, and the recovery of boxes of sensitive government records, paved the way for one of two federal indictments against Trump. The case, and another one charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election, have both been dismissed. Trump applauded the resignation news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice.” and complaining anew about the Mar-a-Lago search. Attorney General Merrick Garland, meanwhile, praised Wray for having “served our country honorably and with integrity for decades.” He said: “Under Director Wray’s principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law.” Natalie Bara, the president of the FBI Agents Association. said in a statement Wray had led the FBI “through challenging times with a steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe. ” Throughout his seven years on the job, Wray brought a workmanlike approach to the job, repeatedly preaching a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra to bureau personnel despite a steady drumbeat of attacks from Trump and his supporters. In fact, Wray was quick to distance himself and his leadership team from the FBI’s Russia investigation that was well underway when he took office. On the same day of a harshly critical inspector general report on that inquiry, Wray announced more than 40 corrective actions to the FBI’s process for applying for warrants for secret national security surveillance. He said mistakes made during the Russia inquiry were unacceptable and he helped tighten controls for investigations into candidates for federal office. FBI officials actively trumpeted those changes to make clear that Wray’s leadership had ushered in a different era at the bureau. Even then, though, Wray’s criticism of the investigation was occasionally measured — he did not agree, for instance, with Trump’s characterization of it as a “witch hunt” — and there were other instances, particularly in response to specific questions, when he memorably broke with the White House. In 2020, he said that there was “no indication” that Ukraine had interfered in the 2016 election, countering a frequent talking point at the time from Trump. When the Trump White House blessed the declassification of materials related to the surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide, Wray made known his displeasure. Wray also angered Trump for saying that antifa was a movement and an ideology but not an organization. Trump had said he would like to designate the group as a terrorist organization. Then came the FBI's Mar-a-Lago search, which officials defended as necessary given the boxes of documents that were being concealed at the Palm Beach property and the evidence of obstruction that the Justice Department said had been gathered. Trump railed against the FBI over that action and has kept up his criticism ever since, including after Wray said at a congressional hearing last summer that there was “some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel” that struck Trump's ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. The FBI later stated unequivocally that it was indeed a bullet. Before being named FBI director, Wray worked at a prestigious law firm, King & Spalding, where he represented former Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., during the “Bridgegate” affair. He also led the Justice Department’s criminal division for a period during President George W. Bush’s administration.NEW YORK , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share on the Company's Class A and Common Stock for the third quarter of fiscal 2025. The dividend is payable on March 14, 2025 , to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on January 31, 2025 . Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! 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Though she won’t be around to see it through, San Francisco Mayor London Breed issued instructions that will set the course of what is expected to be a tumultuous city budget process next year. Facing yet another major deficit that approaches $1 billion over two years, Breed on Tuesday directed city departments to plan to permanently cut their budgets by 15%. The issuance of budget instructions from the mayor’s office and controller’s office in December is a normal part of The City budget process. This year is a bit different, however, because Breed is on her way out the door after losing her reelection bid to mayor-elect Daniel Lurie in November . It will be Lurie and a new Board of Supervisors who will be tasked with introducing and approving a two-year budget, respectively. After Breed announced budget instructions Tuesday, Lurie issued a statement calling the deficit a “crisis we must face head-on.” “We need to stop spending more than we can afford while prioritizing investments that are critical to a full economic recovery and the maintenance of essential services,” Lurie said in a post on X. “Beyond living within our means, fostering a diverse and growing economy is critical to eliminating chronic budget deficits.” This year is also noteworthy due to the scale of The City’s financial obstacles. The budget deficit is projected to be $253 million in the first year of the budget, and $623 million the next. (The City budgets in two-year cycles.) It’s a deep, structural problem. City spending is expected to grow by $1.99 billion over the next five years, while revenues are projected to rise by only $520 million. By the time 2027 rolls around, the deficit is slated to hit an even $1 billion. The deficit is largely due to The City’s economic core and largest tax-revenue generator — a bustling and thriving downtown center — that was unmoored by the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to recover. San Francisco’s hotel taxes were lower than expected, and changes to business taxes approved by voters through Proposition M in November contributed to a $132 million decrease in expected revenue this year. As its tax revenues have languished, The City’s spending has been impacted by a sharp rise in salary and benefit costs. “We eliminated vacant positions, we’ve frozen spending for [community-based organizations],” said Jeff Cretan, a spokesperson for Breed. “We’ve done things like that, but those big pieces are still growing.” Adding to the unknowns is the relationship The City will have with the second administration of President Donald Trump , with whom San Francisco has previously had an antagonistic relationship. If Trump looks to deny The City federal funding — as he did in his first term, for example, as punishment for San Francisco’s sanctuary-city policy — he could further worsen its fiscal position. The City is awaiting $244 million in outstanding Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements that could be at risk. Although Breed started to come down hard on departments last year — beginning by asking them to cut spending by 10% — The City has yet to right the ship. In its annual revenue letter last summer, the Controller’s Office noted that Breed’s budget proposal heavily relied on one-time revenue sources to balance the books, leaving tougher choices for the future. Now, that future has come to pass. Lurie, the founder and former head of anti-poverty nonprofit Tipping Point, ran a campaign that promised to bring change to City Hall and embed accountability into every decision. But it remains to be seen precisely how Lurie might handle the budget differently than Breed had. He has given at least some indications about what might be off the table when it comes to cuts. “Even amidst an unprecedented budget deficit, some things are untouchable. SF’s cherished cable cars are integral to our history and attract visitors who fill hotels, restaurants, and bars,” Lurie said in a post on X , referencing the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s fiscal woes. “Our iconic cable cars play a role in our economic recovery, and they’re here to stay.” Cretan said Lurie has been receiving budget briefings. “Ultimately, the budget decisions will be up to him, it’s not like we’re all sitting down in a room together, but it’s a process kickoff situation,” Cretan said of the budget instructions. “It’s always good to have as much information as possible as you’re making these decisions.” In the meantime, Breed has directed departments to eliminate vacant positions and consider a hiring freeze. Department budgets are due on Feb. 21, 2025.