WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ousted Attorney General Pam Bondi from the Justice Department on Thursday, ending her 14-month tenure as the nation’s top law enforcement official.
Trump announced the move in a post on Truth Social, saying Bondi would transition to a new job in the private sector. He named Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to serve as acting attorney general.
“Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year,” Trump wrote. “We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future, and our Deputy Attorney General, and a very talented and respected Legal Mind, Todd Blanche, will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General.”
Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and longtime Trump ally, was sworn in as the 87th U.S. attorney general on Feb. 5, 2025. Her removal marks the second Cabinet-level departure in Trump’s second term.
In a post on X, Bondi said she would spend the next month preparing Blanche, whom she called “amazing,” before starting her new private-sector role “to continue fighting for President Trump and this Administration.”
Details of the reasons for her departure remain unclear. Multiple news outlets reported that Trump had privately expressed frustration with Bondi’s handling of files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and with the pace of certain investigations. The White House did not provide an official explanation beyond Trump’s social media statement.
Bondi’s tenure included significant changes at the Justice Department, including large-scale personnel shifts. She faced congressional scrutiny, including a planned deposition related to the Epstein files.
The Justice Department had no immediate comment on the leadership change.
Blanche, Trump’s former personal defense lawyer, had served as deputy attorney general. His appointment as acting head places him temporarily in charge of the department pending any nomination for a permanent successor.
As of Friday, no nominee had been named to replace Bondi on a permanent basis. Some reports mentioned Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin as a possible contender, though the White House has not confirmed any candidate.
The ouster comes as the Trump administration continues to pursue its policy priorities through the Justice Department. Officials have not detailed how the leadership transition might affect ongoing matters.
Bondi had no public comment beyond her social media post. The White House referred questions to Trump’s Truth Social announcement.
