Pam Bondi Confirmed As Attorney General, Moves To Overhaul DOJ
Pam Bondi has been confirmed as the U.S. attorney general in a 54-46 Senate vote, marking a major step in President Donald Trump’s efforts to clean up the Department of Justice. Bondi, a longtime Trump ally, is expected to act quickly to reverse what many conservatives see as years of politically motivated prosecutions under the Biden administration.
One Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, joined Republicans in voting for Bondi. Fetterman has previously criticized the legal cases against Trump as politically motivated. During her confirmation hearing, Bondi assured lawmakers that “partisan politics will not play a part” in her leadership and promised that “justice will be administered evenhandedly throughout this country.”
Bondi’s confirmation gives her control over a vast department, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). One of her first priorities is expected to be reviewing cases tied to the January 6 protests. The DOJ has already gathered information on over 5,000 FBI employees involved in those investigations. While officials have said there are no plans for mass firings, concerns remain among some agents.
Additionally, Bondi will oversee the review of federal investigations into Trump, including cases previously led by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Smith resigned before Trump returned to office, and two cases against the president were dismissed under longstanding DOJ precedent prohibiting prosecution of a sitting president. Bondi has previously indicated that prosecutors involved in those cases could face their own investigations.
Early moves under Bondi’s leadership include plans to rescind Biden-era DOJ policies, such as a 2023 FBI memo that appeared to target traditional Catholics and a 2021 memo addressing threats at school board meetings. She is also expected to conduct a broad review of DOJ actions over the past four years, aligning with Trump’s executive order aimed at ending what he has called the “weaponization of government.”
Bondi takes charge as the department faces multiple legal battles over Trump’s policies, including court challenges to his executive orders freezing federal aid and ending birthright citizenship. She will be tasked with defending these policies, while also overseeing internal DOJ restructuring and potential personnel changes.
With Bondi now leading the DOJ, Trump’s effort to eliminate what he and his supporters see as politically motivated law enforcement is fully underway.
