Department of Justice Headquarters Building

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When news spread through Washington last week that Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Justice faced intense scrutiny over allegations involving minors, drugs, and money, the relief among DOJ staff was palpable.

` “Disaster avoided,” one career prosecutor texted. “How lucky are we?” another inquired. “Perhaps the Republic will survive,” a former prosecutor messaged.

Across the capital, colleagues at other agencies hoped for similar fortune. With Trump’s return to Washington and his planned Cabinet appointments, federal workers anticipate a dramatic cultural shift—even more pronounced than during Trump’s first term. Many believe that, initially, Trump had constraints: a limited understanding of presidential power and advisors who, while placating him, also offered some resistance. Now, he’s more aware of his power and is selecting loyalists who share his retaliatory agenda.

Trump is assembling a potentially inexperienced Cabinet, rife with questionable backgrounds and facing uncertain Senate confirmation. Instead of traditional FBI background checks, potential nominees are seemingly chosen based on their media appearances. Experience and skills are secondary to their perceived image and appeal on Fox News.

Matt Gaetz serves as a prime example. The former Congressman, with limited legal experience and no large-organization management background, was investigated by the very department he was nominated to lead. An ethics report detailing his relationships with minors was imminent. Even strong Trump supporters foresaw trouble. In just eight days, Gaetz went from Congressman to failed nominee to disgraced figure. Replacing him, for now, is Pam Bondi, a former Florida Attorney General, who, while a Trump ally and involved in election-fraud claims, is seen as a less controversial choice.

Concerns remain regarding other nominees, including Pete Hegseth and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., about their qualifications and temperament. Gaetz’s withdrawal hasn’t lessened the frustration among Senate Republicans, as Trump continues to defy them.

The issue isn’t limited to top positions. Trump and his allies plan to install loyalists throughout the government, facilitating widespread changes, including a potential mandatory return-to-office policy that could reduce staff. (This overlooks the practicalities of where federal employees actually work.) Allies have expressed support for this move, implying potential implications for private employers. Simply put: Trump may dismiss federal employees who are comfortable with remote work.

Federal employees—the largest workforce under a single system—are largely at the mercy of their incoming leader, who has openly expressed disdain for career civil servants. The new leadership will enforce Trump’s policies.

For now, DOJ employees have avoided working under an unqualified leader loyal to Trump. Their colleagues in other government agencies may not be so fortunate.

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