US, DOJ, legal unit, Trump,
The U.S. Justice Department's Federal Programs Branch, tasked with defending some of former President Donald Trump's most controversial policies—including moves to restrict birthright citizenship and cut federal funding to Harvard University—has lost nearly two-thirds of its lawyers, Reuters reports.
A list reviewed by Reuters shows that 69 out of roughly 110 attorneys in the unit have either left or announced plans to depart since Trump’s re-election, in what insiders describe as an unprecedented wave of resignations. Verified through court records and LinkedIn, the departures include at least 10 senior supervisors and career litigators who served across multiple administrations.
Sources familiar with the situation cite exhaustion, ethical concerns, and internal pressure to defend legally questionable executive actions as key reasons behind the exodus. “Many came to defend constitutional principles—not to tear them down,” one former attorney said, speaking anonymously.
The Trump administration has dismissed the resignations, with White House spokesperson Harrison Fields stating: “Any sanctimonious career bureaucrat expressing faux outrage over the President’s policies has no grounds to stand on.” Meanwhile, the DOJ insists it is facing an "unprecedented number of lawsuits" and continues to defend the administration’s agenda, including at the Supreme Court.
The exits have left the DOJ scrambling to fill gaps, with temporary reassignments, hiring exceptions, and an influx of political appointees now shaping the unit's future direction. Legal experts warn the shake-up could undermine the department’s institutional credibility as it navigates increasingly aggressive legal battles under Trump's second-term agenda.
Source-Reuters
