Trump's DOJ Loses 10,000 Staff, Now Recruits Lawyers on Social Media

While Attorney General Pam Bondi was busy calling lawmakers "loser lawyers" during last week's heated congressional hearing, the real story was unfolding in the empty hallways behind her. The Department of Justice she was defending is hemorrhaging talent at an unprecedented rate.

The Great DOJ Exodus

The numbers tell a stark story. From November 2024 to November 2025, the DOJ lost nearly 10,000 employees—a massive brain drain that officials describe as "unlike anything they've seen in years." U.S. Attorney's Offices shed 14% of their workforce in just twelve months.

Some were fired, others took buyout packages, but many simply walked away. Attorneys working on the Epstein files reportedly spent entire days reviewing documents, burning out from the relentless workload. The U.S. attorney for Minnesota called the immigration caseload surge an "enormous burden."

The desperation became palpable when one ICE attorney told a judge: "I wish you would just hold me in contempt, your honor, so that I can have a full 24 hours of sleep. I work days and night."

From Elite Institution to Social Media Recruiting

Perhaps nothing captures the DOJ's fall from grace more than this: Bondi's former chief of staff put out an open call on social media for lawyers who "support President Trump and anti-crime agenda" to privately message him about jobs.

These were once among the most prestigious positions in American law—what legal experts call the "crème de la crème." Now the department is trolling social media for applicants like a startup looking for interns.

The quality decline is evident. Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump lawyer with no prosecution experience, was appointed as acting U.S. attorney after her predecessor refused to pursue what he considered a weak case against James Comey. Halligan's fundamental errors in court led to thrown-out cases and her eventual resignation.

When Politics Trumps Expertise

The staffing crisis isn't just about numbers—it's about the fundamental transformation of the DOJ's mission. Under Trump's direction, the department has become a vehicle for pursuing personal vendettas rather than upholding the rule of law.

Career professionals are being replaced with MAGA loyalists, sometimes to the detriment of the administration's own agenda. The cases against Letitia James and James Comey collapsed partly due to prosecutorial inexperience.

Meanwhile, a banner now hangs on the DOJ building featuring Trump's photo above the slogan "Make America Safe Again"—a visual reminder of who's really in charge.

The Broader Implications

The immigration court backlog has been reduced from 4.18 million to 3.75 million cases, but with fewer qualified attorneys to handle the remaining caseload, progress may stall. The department's core functions—from civil rights enforcement to antitrust action—are suffering as resources are diverted to political priorities.

A DOJ spokesperson defended the changes, claiming Trump and Bondi have created "the most efficient Department of Justice in American history." But efficiency means little if the institution loses its credibility and expertise.

The answer may determine not just the future of American justice, but the very nature of democratic institutions in the 21st century.