❓WHAT HAPPENED: Nearly two-thirds of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Federal Programs Branch lawyers have left since President Donald J. Trump’s re-election, raising concerns over internal divisions under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s stewardship.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, Federal Programs Branch attorneys.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Washington, D.C., November 2024–July 2025.
🎯IMPACT: With over 60 lawyers leaving and the DOJ rocked by fallout from Bondi’s mishandling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, the department is scrambling to fill gaps and defend administration policies on immigration, education, and executive power.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Federal Programs Branch, responsible for defending many of President Donald J. Trump’s key policies against lawfare suits, has seen a wave of resignations, with 69 of roughly 110 lawyers either leaving or announcing plans to do so. The departures—verified by Reuters—stem partly from supposed ethical concerns among lawyers opposed to Trump’s policies, such as attempting to limit birthright citizenship, but also from morale issues.
The DOJ is currently at the center of a huge public backlash over a memo insisting pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, that no “client list” for him exists, and that no further information about his case can be released.
A Justice Department spokesman acknowledged the “unprecedented number of lawsuits” against Trump’s policies but noted that the Department has prevailed in many, including at the Supreme Court. However, dissidents within the DOJ said staffers feel pressure to misrepresent issues from Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The resignations include at least 10 of the Federal Programs Branch’s 23 supervisors. DOJ leadership has brought in 15 political appointees and reassigned attorneys from other units to manage the caseload. The administration also removed hiring freezes to bolster staffing. Former Civil Division chief Peter Keisler said the legal workload is staggering.
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