US Justice Department unit that defends Trump policy has lost two-thirds of its staff - Former staff lawyers

US Justice Department unit that defends Trump policy has lost two-thirds of its staff - Former staff lawyers

In a significant development, nearly two-thirds of the lawyers in the Federal Programs Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have voluntarily left or announced plans to resign since President Donald Trump's November election. This high level of turnover is attributed to the challenging nature of defending Trump's policies, which many lawyers find legally unjustifiable and morally problematic [1].

The Federal Programs Branch, responsible for defending Trump's policy in court, has seen a mass exodus of its staff. According to Reuters, out of approximately 110 lawyers, around 69 have either left or plan to do so. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, cited a punishing workload, the need to defend policies they deemed not legally justifiable, and fears of retaliation as key reasons for their departure [1].

The departures have been compounded by the firing of Erez Reuveni, a former supervisor in the Office of Immigration Litigation, over the Kilmar Ábrego García case. Reuveni's subsequent whistleblower complaint has raised concerns about the nomination of Emil Bove, who is now nominated by Trump to serve as a federal appellate judge. The legal community has expressed dismay over the situation, with some lawyers noting that they could not participate in the "project of tearing down" the constitutional system they were sworn to uphold [1].

The DOJ has maintained that it will continue to defend the president's agenda and is hiring to maintain staffing levels from the Biden administration. However, the ongoing turnover has led to concerns about the integrity and effectiveness of the legal defense of Trump's policies. The situation has also drawn criticism from legal experts and political figures, who argue that the remaining lawyers are complicit in authoritarianism [1].

The Federal Programs Branch has had to defend policies such as Trump's anti-immigrant agenda, including mass deportations and attacks on birthright citizenship, as well as attempts to slash government jobs and spending. The unit has faced intense scrutiny and criticism for its role in defending these policies [1].

In addition to the staffing issues, the DOJ has faced accusations of serious professional misconduct under Attorney General Pam Bondi. Over 70 legal experts and three groups have filed a June ethics complaint against Bondi, alleging that she has sought to compel DOJ lawyers to violate their ethical obligations under the guise of "zealous advocacy" [1].

The ongoing developments in the DOJ raise significant concerns about the independence and integrity of the legal system. The high turnover rate among lawyers in the Federal Programs Branch underscores the challenges faced by the legal profession in defending policies that are widely seen as unjustifiable and morally questionable.

References:
[1] Reuters. (2025, July 14). Nearly two-thirds of DOJ lawyers defending Trump policies have left or plan to leave. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/nearly-two-thirds-doj-lawyers-defending-trump-policies-left-plan-leave-2025-07-14/
[2] The Guardian. (2025, July 15). EU Trade Commissioner warns Trump's tariffs could "eliminate" transatlantic trade. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/15/eu-trade-commissioner-warns-trump-tariffs-could-eliminate-transatlantic-trade
[3] CBS News. (2025, July 16). Supreme Court allows Trump administration's mass firings at Education Department for now. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-allows-trump-administrations-mass-firings-at-education-department-for-now/
[4] Caliber.Az. (2025, July 17). US Justice Department fires 20 employees tied to Trump prosecutions. Retrieved from https://caliber.az/en/post/us-justice-department-fires-20-employees-tied-to-trump-prosecutions