By Charles Switzer
8:49am PST, Feb 19, 2025
Trump Fires All 'Biden Era' U.S. Attorneys in Sweeping DOJ Overhaul
President
Donald Trump announced Tuesday, February 18, that he ordered the immediate dismissal of every U.S. Attorney appointed during the
Biden administration. The decision, which Trump framed as a necessary step to depoliticize the Department of Justice, was made public via a statement on Truth Social.
"Over the past four years, the Department of Justice has been politicized like never before. Therefore, I have instructed the termination of ALL remaining 'Biden Era' U.S. Attorneys. We must 'clean house' IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence. America's Golden Age must have a fair Justice System — THAT BEGINS TODAY!" the president wrote.
The move marks one of the most dramatic shake-ups within the Justice Department since his return to office, effectively clearing out nearly all top federal prosecutors across the country.
Here's a closer look at how Trump's DOJ is taking shape.
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Trump Targets Jan. 6 Investigators in Latest Criticism
Trump's announcement came shortly after he renewed his attacks on the House select committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol riot. He criticized former committee members, particularly Rep.
Bennie Thompson and former Rep.
Liz Cheney, for their handling of evidence.
"Biden gave Bennie Thompson and Liz Cheney a Medal for the job they did on the Unselect Committee, but the only thing that I see they did is get information, and then destroy and delete ALL of it, because the whole thing turned out to be a HOAX!" Trump wrote.
The president has long argued that the committee's work was politically motivated, seeking to frame him and his supporters rather than conducting an impartial investigation into the attack.
President Biden preemptively pardoned Cheney and Thompson before he left office.
Trump's Accusations of DOJ 'Weaponization'
Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump repeatedly accused Biden of using the justice system as a political weapon. His claims stemmed from multiple legal cases against him, including two federal indictments — one related to his alleged role in the events leading up to January 6 and another regarding
classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump and his allies have consistently labeled these investigations as "lawfare," arguing that the legal challenges were orchestrated to derail his presidential bid. Now, with full control of the executive branch, Trump is moving quickly to reshape the Department of Justice in response to what he calls politically motivated prosecutions.
Mass Resignations Follow Trump's DOJ Overhaul
Trump's sweeping purge of U.S. Attorneys came amid internal turmoil within the DOJ. Reports indicate that mass resignations have followed in response to a recent decision to drop a high-profile corruption case against New York City Mayor
Eric Adams. The move to dismiss the case came after Adams agreed to cooperate with the Trump administration on illegal immigration, fueling speculation about whether the decision was politically influenced.
Though the case was dropped "without prejudice," meaning it could be reopened in the future, the abrupt shift has raised eyebrows within legal and political circles.
The Future of Trump's DOJ and Legal Strategy
With the removal of Biden-era U.S. Attorneys, Trump now has the opportunity to reshape the federal prosecutorial landscape with appointees more aligned with his vision for the justice system. His administration is expected to prioritize investigations into what he has called "Biden corruption," as well as efforts to crack down on
illegal immigration and urban crime.
However, the decision to purge so many prosecutors at once could create immediate disruptions in high-profile cases already underway. Whether Trump's approach will restore "fairness" to the Justice Department or further fuel accusations of political interference remains to be seen.
Even though the president seeks to purge certain Biden appointees from the DOJ,
USA Today reported that the 46th president's increase of federal judges during his one term in office still presents Trump with "major legal roadblocks."
