
President Donald Trump begins his second term by launching a sweeping purge of the “deep state” at the Department of Justice, fulfilling a key campaign promise.
Quick Takes
- Trump fires and reassigns numerous career DOJ officials, including top immigration court leaders
- Over 20 officials affected, including reassignments of veteran national security and internal affairs heads
- Move aligns with Trump’s vow to eliminate “warmongers, globalists, communists, Marxists, and fascists” from government
- Actions taken hours after inauguration, ahead of new Attorney General’s confirmation
- Critics worry about potential retaliation, while supporters see it as necessary reform
Trump’s “Deep State” Purge Begins
President Donald Trump has wasted no time in fulfilling his campaign promise to overhaul the Justice Department and remove what he sees as entrenched “deep state” operatives. Within hours of taking office for his second term, Trump initiated a significant shake-up at the DOJ, firing and reassigning numerous career officials in a move that has sent shockwaves through Washington.
The purge began with the abrupt dismissal of four top officials at the Justice Department’s Executive Office of Immigration Review. Those fired included Chief Immigration Judge Sheila McNulty, acting Director Mary Cheng, General Counsel Jill Anderson, and Head of Policy Lauren Alder Reid. These officials, with decades of combined experience managing U.S. immigration courts, were removed without warning or stated cause.
The Trump administration fired four top officials at the Justice Department’s Executive Office of Immigration Review, which oversees U.S. immigration courts, late Monday. https://t.co/syXPNy0Y1w
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 22, 2025
Reassignments and Reactions
Beyond the immigration court firings, approximately 20 other DOJ officials have been reassigned to different positions within the department. Notable among these are Bruce Swartz, head of the office of internal affairs, and George Toscas, a veteran deputy assistant attorney general in the national security division. These personnel moves, occurring across administrations, are highly unusual for career lawyers.
The reassignments have taken place ahead of the anticipated confirmation of Pam Bondi as the new U.S. Attorney General. Currently, James McHenry is serving as the acting Attorney General following Merrick Garland’s departure. The reasons behind these personnel changes remain unclear, but they align with Trump’s campaign rhetoric about reforming the federal government.
Impact on Immigration Policy
The removal of top officials from the Executive Office of Immigration Review is particularly significant given the current backlog of over 3 million immigration cases. These changes occurred shortly after President Trump signed executive orders related to immigration, suggesting a potential shift in how immigration cases will be handled moving forward.
The Justice Department employs over 700 immigration judges who handle asylum cases, and these changes at the top level could potentially influence how these cases are processed and decided. Trump’s actions align with his campaign promises to enforce mass deportations and reform the immigration system, which many of his supporters view as necessary for national security and economic stability.
Looking Ahead: Potential for Further Changes
As the Trump administration settles into its second term, there are indications that more changes could be on the horizon. Before leaving office in his first term, Trump signed an executive order to reclassify federal employees into Schedule F, aiming to increase accountability. While this order was canceled by President Biden, there is speculation that Trump might reimplement it, potentially leading to even more significant changes in the federal workforce.
Critics of these moves express concern about potential retaliation against perceived adversaries and the loss of institutional knowledge. Supporters, however, see these actions as necessary steps to reform a bureaucracy they believe has become too entrenched and unaccountable. As the situation continues to unfold, the impact of these changes on the functioning of the Justice Department and the broader federal government remains to be seen.
Sources:
- Donald Trump Launches Purge of ‘Deep State’ at DOJ, Fulfilling Campaign Promise
- Trump fired four top immigration court officials hours after taking office
- Key career officials at Justice Department reassigned to different positions, AP sources say
- Career Justice Department officials reassigned to different positions: reports