Bill Melugin, Fox News congressional correspondent
Bill Melugin is one of Fox News Channel’s most recognizable and trusted on-the-ground journalists. He now serves as the network’s congressional correspondent, based in Washington, D.C., bringing years of immersive, high-impact reporting — including on immigration and border security — to the halls of Capitol Hill. His November 2025 promotion was a major move from his Los Angeles base, where he became a household name covering the southern border crisis.
Bill Melugin Profile Summary
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Bill Melugin |
| Current Role | Congressional Correspondent, Fox News Channel (FNC) |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Joined Fox News | May 2021 |
| Promotion | Elevated to Congressional Correspondent in November 2025 |
| Major Coverage Areas | U.S.-Mexico border crisis, immigration, Congress, breaking news |
| Notable Reporting | – Migrant crossings at the southern border (2021–2024) – Del Rio migrant surge (Sept 2021) – Drowning of Texas National Guardsman Bishop Evans (Apr 2022) – Uvalde school shooting (May 2022) – California wildfires (Jan 2025) |
| Previous Roles | – Investigative Reporter, KTTV-TV Los Angeles – Anchor/Reporter, WJZY-TV Charlotte – Fill-in Anchor, KFOX-TV El Paso |
| Awards | – 3 Local Emmy Awards (Investigative Reporting, Los Angeles) – 3 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards (Hard & Breaking News) – 2 Golden Mike Awards (Best Investigative Journalism) |
| Education | Bachelor’s in Broadcast Journalism, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University |
| Other Work | Anchor of Fox News Report, a daily 90-second news brief aired on Fox-owned stations |
| Career Start | Began professional career in 2013 at KFOX-TV in El Paso, Texas |
From local markets to the national stage
Melugin is a native of Orange County in Southern California. He is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where he received a degree in broadcast journalism. He began his career in 2013 at KFOX-TV in El Paso, Texas as a nightside reporter and fill-in anchor. He later moved to WJZY-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina where he was an anchor and investigator before joining KTTV-TV (Fox 11) in Los Angeles in 2017 as an evening and investigative reporter.
Melugin quickly made a name for himself at KTTV with hard-hitting local investigations. He was a key player in breaking the story of California Governor Gavin Newsom dining at the French Laundry restaurant without a mask amid COVID-19 restrictions, with exclusive photos that garnered national attention.
Moving to Fox News and mastering the border beat
Melugin joined Fox News Channel as a national correspondent in Los Angeles in May 2021. From the beginning, he dove into coverage of the U.S.-Mexico border crisis. Between 2021 and 2024, he spent roughly half the year on the ground, filing vivid, firsthand reports with helicopter and drone footage.
He also did extensive live coverage of the mass crossings of migrants at the Del Rio International Bridge in September 2021 and the tragic drowning of Texas National Guardsman Bishop Evans in the Rio Grande in 2022. In one year, 2022, he did 1,000 live shots just out of the Rio Grande Valley. In a time of heightened national debate over the border, this constant presence played a role in shaping Fox News’ border coverage.
Lex Fridman’s Net Worth
| Person | Estimated Net Worth (2026) | Primary Income Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lex Fridman | $2.1M – $8M (varies by source) | YouTube ad revenue, Lex Fridman Podcast sponsorships, MIT research salary, consulting, speaking engagements | Lower estimates ($2.1M–$3M) are based only on YouTube ads; higher estimates ($5M–$8M) include podcast sponsorships, academic work, and brand partnerships. |
| Bill Melugin | ~$3M | Fox News salary, bonuses, speaking engagements, social media partnerships, real estate | His Fox News salary is estimated between $200K–$800K annually. Owns property in Los Angeles; promoted to Congressional Correspondent in late 2025. |
Reporting on Big National Stories
Melugin has covered some of the biggest breaking news stories in the past few years beyond the border. He was on the ground in Uvalde, Texas, after the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. He also helped with continuing coverage of the catastrophic California wildfires in early 2025. He has also reported on major political events, including the Republican National Convention and the proceedings of the presidential inauguration.
His reporting, blending sharp investigative instincts with compelling visuals, has made complicated stories accessible and urgent to viewers.
New Job on Capitol Hill
On November 20, 2025, Melugin was named one of four congressional correspondents for Fox News Media. He immediately moved to Washington, D.C. and began covering Congress on a full-time basis. He is anchor of the daily FOX News Report, a 90-second newscast at 5:58 p.m. ET on Fox-owned and operated stations.
“Fox News President and Executive Editor Jay Wallace issued a statement praising Melugin’s reporting, calling it “dogged dedication to uncovering the story and deep understanding of national issues.” The move enables him to apply his border expertise directly to congressional oversight, policy debates and accountability on immigration and other critical issues.
Honors and Awards
Melugin’s work has won a number of prestigious awards. He received three local Emmy Awards for investigative reporting at KTTV. He has won twice the Radio & Television News Association of Southern California’s Golden Mike Award for Best Investigative Journalism and has won three regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for hard news and breaking news coverage.
A Journalist in Motion
Melugin has spent his career as a field reporter and storyteller, focusing on facts and visuals instead of studio commentary. From his modest start in the small markets of Texas, to the front lines of the border crisis, to the heart of American politics in Washington, he keeps providing timely and powerful journalism.
Bill Melugin, as the congressional correspondent, remains a key voice for Fox News, bridging the gap between the legislative process that shapes national policy and the realities on the ground. His move to Capitol Hill puts him in position to hold lawmakers accountable on the issues he has long covered with distinction.