Mass Exodus Hits Trump Justice Department Unit | JQJO

The US Justice Department's federal programs branch, responsible for defending Trump administration policies, has lost nearly two-thirds of its staff. Sixty-nine of roughly 110 lawyers have left since Trump's election, citing demoralization, unsustainable workloads, and pressure to defend legally questionable policies. Departures include many supervisors and experienced litigators. The White House attributes the departures to career bureaucrats' outrage, while the Justice Department cites an unprecedented number of lawsuits. Former lawyers allege pressure to misrepresent facts and fear of retaliation for refusing assignments. The high turnover has forced the department to hire replacements and bring in political appointees.