In a dramatic shake-up at the top of the U.S. Justice Department, President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a White House official confirmed on Thursday.
The decision follows mounting frustration over Bondi’s handling of sensitive investigations, including files linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that Bondi would be “transitioning to a much-needed and important new job in the private sector,” praising her work in his administration while offering no specific reason for her departure.
Bondi, a former Republican attorney general in Florida, had been a staunch ally of Trump, fiercely defending his agenda and frequently clashing with critics. However, her management of the Epstein case increasingly drew criticism, including from some Republican lawmakers and Trump allies.
She faced accusations of mismanaging or withholding records related to the Justice Department’s sex trafficking investigations into Epstein, whose connections to powerful figures have long attracted scrutiny.
The controversy also reignited questions about Trump’s past friendship with Epstein, which the president has insisted ended decades ago. Bondi’s departure may signal a shift in the Justice Department’s approach, particularly regarding politically sensitive investigations.
Bondi had been under pressure for months. Reports suggest Trump was dissatisfied with her pace in pursuing cases against critics, including a probe into former CIA Director John Brennan.
She also faced scrutiny over the removal of career prosecutors from cases Trump viewed as unfavourable. Critics argued this undermined the Justice Department’s long-standing tradition of impartiality.
Despite the backlash, Bondi defended her record, insisting the administration had been more transparent than previous presidencies in handling Epstein-related materials. During a combative congressional hearing in January, she repeatedly pushed back against lawmakers, refusing to apologise or address victims present.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will assume the role on an interim basis while Trump considers permanent replacements. Among those reportedly under consideration is Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin.
Sources say Trump discussed the possibility of dismissing Bondi with her on Wednesday, describing the conversation as “tough” and suggesting her replacement was imminent. She is expected to be offered another role, potentially a judicial appointment.
Bondi’s tenure was marked by strong loyalty to Trump, a focus on violent crime, and a frequently controversial approach to federal prosecutions. Ultimately, however, it was the Epstein files and her handling of politically sensitive cases that led to her exit.
Her removal makes her the second senior Trump official to be ousted in recent weeks, following the dismissal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in early March.
The administration now faces renewed scrutiny over its direction and its handling of high-profile investigations.
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