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Last week, a wave of relief swept through Washington as news broke that Donald Trump’s initial pick for Attorney General had stepped back from consideration. This decision came amid serious allegations surrounding an inappropriate dating history involving minors, drug use, and financial misconduct. For many at the DOJ, the sense of relief was almost tangible.
“We’ve narrowly escaped a disaster,” a federal prosecutor texted me shortly after the announcement of Gaetz’s withdrawal. Another joked, “What a lucky break for us!” A former prosecutor expressed cautious optimism: “Perhaps there’s still hope for the Republic.”
As discussions swirled through the capital, DOJ personnel and their colleagues found themselves wishing for a similar stroke of luck in the near future. With Trump poised to re-enter Washington with a team of loyalists ready to fill key positions, 4.5 million federal employees are bracing for a significant cultural shift—one that could far exceed the turbulence experienced during Trump’s first term eight years ago. Many observers contend that during that period, Trump was somewhat restrained by two main factors: a limited grasp of the vast powers of an unchecked presidency and a circle of advisors largely made up of conventional CEOs who, while accommodating, did not fully align with his more extreme goals. This time, however, Trump seems more aware of the breadth of presidential authority and is selecting his team from a pool of reality TV-style figures who share his agenda of revenge and retribution.
Trump is assembling what could potentially become one of the most inexperienced Cabinets in decades—one rife with controversies and questionable qualifications. Many of his nominees are skipping the standard FBI background checks, being evaluated instead based on their media presence and compatibility with Trump’s preferences. Qualifications and expertise appear to be taking a backseat to candidates’ charisma and their performance on platforms like Fox News.
Consider Matt Gaetz, who was quickly nominated and even more swiftly fell from favor as Trump’s first choice for Attorney General. Gaetz’s legal experience is minimal, and he has no background managing a large organization. Compounding matters, he was under investigation by the very department he was intended to lead, with an ethics report anticipated to expose troubling aspects of his relationships with minors. Even among his most ardent MAGA supporters, there were forewarnings of trouble. In just eight days, Gaetz went from Congressman to Cabinet candidate to disgraced figure. Currently, Pam Bondi, a former Florida Attorney General known for her loyalty to Trump and flirtation with election fraud theories, has taken on the role of a less controversial interim replacement.
Concerns regarding qualifications and temperament linger for other potential nominees, including Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The fallout from Gaetz’s exit has not eased the mounting frustrations among Senate Republicans, as Trump continues to nudge them toward accepting his increasingly outlandish team.
Furthermore, the situation extends beyond just the top positions. Trump and his loyalists are eager to place their supporters throughout the ranks, facilitating sweeping changes across government levels. This includes a widely anticipated mandatory return-to-office policy that could drastically lower the federal workforce. This shift is seen as a chance to reshape the federal workforce, influencing even private sector employment dynamics. Trump is prepared to show many federal employees the door if they have grown too comfortable with remote work.
Federal workers—who comprise the largest group of employees in a single system nationwide—find themselves largely at the mercy of their incoming leader, who has openly expressed disdain for career officials he deems disloyal or part of a so-called Deep State. The new wave of officials appears set to carry out Trump’s directives.
For now, it seems DOJ veterans have been spared the challenge of working under an inexperienced leader whose primary qualification lies in winning Trump’s favor. However, their counterparts throughout the federal government may not share the same fortune.
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