Nearly two-thirds of the lawyers tasked with defending President Donald Trump’s sweeping policies have resigned from the Department of Justice’s Federal Programs Branch, according to a bombshell report from Reuters.
Since the 2024 election, 69 out of the 110 attorneys assigned to the branch—which handles lawsuits against the federal government—have quit. The 62.7% attrition rate is not only staggering, but, according to legal experts, without precedent during the middle of a presidential administration.
“These are attorneys who joined the DOJ to protect the Constitution,” said one former federal lawyer. “How could they justify staying when they were being asked to dismantle it?”
The resignations come amid growing internal frustration over the relentless wave of litigation sparked by Trump’s controversial agenda—from ending birthright citizenship and fast-tracking deportations without due process, to imposing aggressive tariffs and attempting to defund elite institutions like Harvard University. At least four former attorneys told Reuters they left over concerns that some of the administration’s actions are unconstitutional.
Adding to the exodus, multiple lawyers reported being pressured to stretch or skew facts in legal arguments. At least three said they feared facing professional sanctions if they refused.
While turnover at the Federal Programs Branch is not uncommon during presidential transitions, legal experts say this level of attrition midway through a term is extraordinary.
“We’ve never seen a president push the legal boundaries so far, so fast, and across so many areas of government at once,” said Peter Keisler, former head of the DOJ’s Civil Division under President George W. Bush. “And it’s happening just as the number of lawyers willing to defend these actions is plummeting.”
Despite imposing a federal hiring freeze as part of his cost-cutting agenda, Trump has made an exception for the DOJ in a bid to replenish its dwindling legal staff.
The White House, however, has downplayed the resignations and defended the legality of Trump’s agenda.
“Every action the President has taken is constitutional,” said White House spokesman Harrison Fields. “The President has racked up historic victories in court, including at the Supreme Court. Anyone whining now about ethics was silent during the weaponization of government under the last administration.”
A DOJ spokesperson echoed those sentiments, stating that the remaining legal team is dealing with an “unprecedented” number of cases, but has successfully fended off many challenges.
The staffing crisis also comes as Trump allies intensify their calls for Attorney General Pam Bondi to be fired over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Bondi, a close Trump ally, has faced mounting criticism for failing to release documents related to Epstein’s alleged “client list,” further deepening tensions within the DOJ.
While the White House continues to brush off the internal backlash, former DOJ staffers warn that the department is being hollowed out from within—leaving fewer professionals willing to defend policies that, in their view, threaten the very foundation of American democracy.