In the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, many DOJ and FBI officials are reportedly planning to leave, fearing retributive actions under his returning administration.
Breitbart reported that after the announcement of Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election, a significant shift began to unfurl within the ranks of federal employees. Under the current Biden-Harris administration, there's been a sense of protection for federal employees, but with Trump’s return, that is anticipated to change dramatically.
Donald Trump last week regained the presidency, marking him the first person to do so after an election defeat since Grover Cleveland in 1892.
His victory was declared alongside his running mate, Senator JD Vance from Ohio, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota.
Back in March 2023, Donald Trump expressed plans to reintroduce an executive order known as Schedule F, which makes it easier to dismiss federal employees. This order was first issued during his previous term in 2020 but was later rescinded by President Biden in January 2021.
Biden's revocation of Schedule F included implementing protections to shield federal employees from arbitrary dismissals, actions that reflected a reversal of Trump’s policies. Trump, however, has been vocal about his intentions to purge what he describes as unfair actors within federal agencies, claiming they target Americans unjustly.
With these intentions now close to being realized, apprehension has spread among federal bureaucrats, especially those in high-ranking positions within the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Reports from Friday suggest that these concerns have prompted many to explore new job opportunities outside the federal government.
Federal officials are concerned that Trump’s past pronouncements about his retributive agenda towards those he views as opponents will soon translate into actual policy.
This fear has been compounded by Trump's direct threats to individuals like special counsel Jack Smith, whom Trump has promised to dismiss immediately upon taking office again in January.
Meanwhile, Jack Smith is making swift efforts to conclude federal cases against Trump, likely to ensure that they conclude before Trump reassumes office. If these cases are pending by the time of Trump's inauguration, they could see significant alterations or dismissals under his administration’s influence.
This buildup comes as Trump and his legal team, as of Wednesday, consider their next steps, potentially influencing further federal legal actions and policies directly linked to these ongoing federal cases.
Blaze News investigative journalist Steve Baker has highlighted the emerging trend of federal bureaucrats, particularly U.S. attorneys and assistant U.S. attorneys, preparing to exit their roles. According to Baker, these officials fear that their days are numbered under the new administration, with many looking towards positions in high-powered law firms as safer harbors.
Donald Trump, speaking at CPAC in 2023, set the tone for his anticipated return to the White House.
He declared himself the defender and warrior for those he believes have been wronged, emphasizing a sharp turn towards fulfilling promises of retribution against his perceived adversaries within the government.
Amid these declarations, Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung highlighted the election results as a clear mandate from the American people favoring Trump’s envisioned policies. Cheung described this as an endorsement of Trump’s call to end the “weaponization of the justice system,” which he links directly to efforts aimed at unifying and improving the nation.
Judge Tanya Chutkan has also recently played a significant role in this unfolding storyline by halting all deadlines and ongoing proceedings in the DOJ’s election interference case against Trump upon Jack Smith’s request.
This action temporarily stymies any legal progress until further notice, adding another layer of complexity to the pre-inauguration landscape.
As federal bureaucrats plan their departures, the looming changes under Trump’s return to power reflect a fraught environment for federal employees. This transitional period appears driven by a mixture of fear, policy anticipation, and the strategic recalibrations of those poised to be most directly impacted.