On her first day as Trump's attorney general, Pam Bondi issued a series of orders
The newly inaugurated Attorney General under Trump has issued a set of directives.
TroibNews 
Pam Bondi has officially taken the helm of the Justice Department and wasted no time in setting her agenda.
Following her swearing-in, President Donald Trump’s attorney general issued a series of orders on Wednesday, releasing 14 directives aimed at steering the department's focus. Among her directives, Bondi established a task force to investigate the "weaponization" of the Justice Department and to limit inquiries into foreign influence. She also cautioned career attorneys at the agency against attempting to obstruct the policies of the Trump administration.
Here’s an overview of Bondi’s priorities on her first day:
**Weaponization**
Bondi instructed the "weaponization" task force to look into former special counsel Jack Smith, who has indicted Trump in two federal criminal cases: one related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots and the other concerning Trump's handling of classified documents. Furthermore, she directed the task force to investigate the federal cooperation alleged to be involved in the actions of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Bragg's office prosecuted the criminal hush money case against Trump, leading to his conviction on 34 felony counts of business fraud. James initiated a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his family business, culminating in a significant civil judgment against Trump.
Trump has made threats of retaliation against Bragg and James, labeling Bragg as someone who should face prosecution and criticizing James as “grossly incompetent.” Trump's camp has also raised concerns about Matthew Colangelo, a prosecutor in Bragg’s office with a prior role at the Justice Department, suggesting ties to the Biden administration in the criminal case's unfolding.
Spokespeople for both Bragg and James opted not to comment.
Bondi also tasked the group with investigating "improper investigative tactics and unethical prosecutions" related to the January 6 events, while distinguishing between these actions and "good-faith actions by federal employees simply following orders."
**Redirecting Law Enforcement**
Bondi called for a comprehensive commitment from the Justice Department to support Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts, urging the use of "all available criminal statutes." Her memo echoes a previous order from acting DOJ Deputy Emil Bove, which instructed FBI-led task forces nationwide to pivot their focus toward immigration.
Additionally, she proposed dissolving the Foreign Influence Task Force established during Trump’s previous term. The Justice Department will pursue charges under the Foreign Agents Registration Act only in cases resembling conventional espionage, indicating a shift away from prosecutions founded on covert propaganda and insidious influence operations. Previous cases brought against Trump associates under this premise yielded mixed outcomes.
**Making DOJ Lawyers Toe the Line**
Bondi instituted strict measures towards career attorneys who may challenge the Trump administration’s policies, warning that noncompliance could lead to termination. “Department of Justice attorneys have signed up for a job that requires zealously advocating for the United States,” Bondi stated. She emphasized that discretion afforded to agency attorneys does not include the option to replace prevailing political views.
She reiterated, “It is therefore the policy of the Department of Justice that any attorney who, because of their personal political views or judgments, declines to sign a brief or appear in court, refuses to advance good-faith arguments on behalf of the Administration, or otherwise delays or impedes the Department’s mission will be subject to discipline and potential termination, consistent with applicable law.”
This policy could prove problematic, as existing civil service protections and ethics guidelines make it challenging to discipline a government lawyer who raises concerns about the appropriateness of certain arguments. Instances have already surfaced where political appointees sign pleadings alone, indicating resistance from career staff.
**An Oct. 7 Task Force**
Bondi announced a renewed emphasis on the aftermath of Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, an event leading to the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, including 47 Americans, along with the hostage-taking of over 200 individuals, including eight U.S. citizens. She established a “10-7” task force aimed at “seeking justice for victims of the attack and addressing the ongoing threat posed by Hamas and its affiliates, both domestically and abroad.”
This task force's responsibilities will include pursuing criminal charges against those implicated in the attack, as well as investigating and prosecuting “acts of terrorism, antisemitic civil rights violations, and other federal crimes committed by Hamas supporters in the United States, including on college campuses.” Trump has pledged to deport foreign students affiliated with Hamas.
While the Biden administration initiated criminal charges against Hamas leaders linked to the October 7 incidents, these were filed under seal in federal court in New York in February 2024 and were made public in September. Four of the six individuals charged are believed to have been killed in Israel's response. Recently, the Justice Department sought names of all FBI personnel associated with this case, but DOJ representatives have not clarified the rationale behind this request.
**DEI Initiatives**
In the wake of Trump’s executive order dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at federal agencies, Bondi instructed the Justice Department to comprehensively review multiple operational aspects, including consent decrees, settlement agreements, and procurement policies.
“There is no place in these materials for race- or sex-based preferences, diversity hiring targets, or preferential treatment based on DEI- or DEIA-related criteria,” she asserted.
Bondi mandated that Justice Department entities provide reports by March 15 confirming the termination of DEI and “environmental justice” programs and identifying any federal contractors that have supplied DEI training or resources to department employees since Trump assumed office.
**Reinstating the Federal Death Penalty**
Bondi announced the end of the federal execution moratorium that was enacted during the Biden presidency. She committed that the department lawyers would "evaluate all potential avenues to strengthen the federal death penalty as a valid means of punishment for the heinous crimes it is intended to punish."
She also criticized Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment prior to Trump taking office. In her memo, Bondi proposed organizing a public forum for victims’ families to discuss the personal impact of these commutations. Additionally, she instructed federal prosecutors' offices to support local prosecutors in pursuing death sentences under state law when appropriate.
Her orders extended to the Federal Bureau of Prisons to implement stricter conditions for the inmates involved, aligning their treatment with the security risks they present.
**Sanctuary Cities**
Bondi reignited a long-standing conflict over “sanctuary jurisdictions,” or cities and counties that have opted out of enforcing federal immigration laws. She ordered the Justice Department to “pause the distribution of all funds until a review has been completed” regarding financial grants or other funds to these jurisdictions.
A similar move by Attorney General Jeff Sessions during Trump’s first term led to various lawsuits from localities claiming the department lacked the authority to cut off funding. Courts delivered mixed ruling outcomes, with a federal appeals court in Chicago indicating that the Trump administration might have overstepped Congressional authority in restricting grants, while a New York appeals court upheld the DOJ’s policy.
Moreover, Bondi ordered a 60-day freeze on all DOJ grants or contracts to organizations providing services to "illegal or removable aliens."
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
Following her swearing-in, President Donald Trump’s attorney general issued a series of orders on Wednesday, releasing 14 directives aimed at steering the department's focus. Among her directives, Bondi established a task force to investigate the "weaponization" of the Justice Department and to limit inquiries into foreign influence. She also cautioned career attorneys at the agency against attempting to obstruct the policies of the Trump administration.
Here’s an overview of Bondi’s priorities on her first day:
**Weaponization**
Bondi instructed the "weaponization" task force to look into former special counsel Jack Smith, who has indicted Trump in two federal criminal cases: one related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots and the other concerning Trump's handling of classified documents. Furthermore, she directed the task force to investigate the federal cooperation alleged to be involved in the actions of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Bragg's office prosecuted the criminal hush money case against Trump, leading to his conviction on 34 felony counts of business fraud. James initiated a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his family business, culminating in a significant civil judgment against Trump.
Trump has made threats of retaliation against Bragg and James, labeling Bragg as someone who should face prosecution and criticizing James as “grossly incompetent.” Trump's camp has also raised concerns about Matthew Colangelo, a prosecutor in Bragg’s office with a prior role at the Justice Department, suggesting ties to the Biden administration in the criminal case's unfolding.
Spokespeople for both Bragg and James opted not to comment.
Bondi also tasked the group with investigating "improper investigative tactics and unethical prosecutions" related to the January 6 events, while distinguishing between these actions and "good-faith actions by federal employees simply following orders."
**Redirecting Law Enforcement**
Bondi called for a comprehensive commitment from the Justice Department to support Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts, urging the use of "all available criminal statutes." Her memo echoes a previous order from acting DOJ Deputy Emil Bove, which instructed FBI-led task forces nationwide to pivot their focus toward immigration.
Additionally, she proposed dissolving the Foreign Influence Task Force established during Trump’s previous term. The Justice Department will pursue charges under the Foreign Agents Registration Act only in cases resembling conventional espionage, indicating a shift away from prosecutions founded on covert propaganda and insidious influence operations. Previous cases brought against Trump associates under this premise yielded mixed outcomes.
**Making DOJ Lawyers Toe the Line**
Bondi instituted strict measures towards career attorneys who may challenge the Trump administration’s policies, warning that noncompliance could lead to termination. “Department of Justice attorneys have signed up for a job that requires zealously advocating for the United States,” Bondi stated. She emphasized that discretion afforded to agency attorneys does not include the option to replace prevailing political views.
She reiterated, “It is therefore the policy of the Department of Justice that any attorney who, because of their personal political views or judgments, declines to sign a brief or appear in court, refuses to advance good-faith arguments on behalf of the Administration, or otherwise delays or impedes the Department’s mission will be subject to discipline and potential termination, consistent with applicable law.”
This policy could prove problematic, as existing civil service protections and ethics guidelines make it challenging to discipline a government lawyer who raises concerns about the appropriateness of certain arguments. Instances have already surfaced where political appointees sign pleadings alone, indicating resistance from career staff.
**An Oct. 7 Task Force**
Bondi announced a renewed emphasis on the aftermath of Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, an event leading to the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, including 47 Americans, along with the hostage-taking of over 200 individuals, including eight U.S. citizens. She established a “10-7” task force aimed at “seeking justice for victims of the attack and addressing the ongoing threat posed by Hamas and its affiliates, both domestically and abroad.”
This task force's responsibilities will include pursuing criminal charges against those implicated in the attack, as well as investigating and prosecuting “acts of terrorism, antisemitic civil rights violations, and other federal crimes committed by Hamas supporters in the United States, including on college campuses.” Trump has pledged to deport foreign students affiliated with Hamas.
While the Biden administration initiated criminal charges against Hamas leaders linked to the October 7 incidents, these were filed under seal in federal court in New York in February 2024 and were made public in September. Four of the six individuals charged are believed to have been killed in Israel's response. Recently, the Justice Department sought names of all FBI personnel associated with this case, but DOJ representatives have not clarified the rationale behind this request.
**DEI Initiatives**
In the wake of Trump’s executive order dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at federal agencies, Bondi instructed the Justice Department to comprehensively review multiple operational aspects, including consent decrees, settlement agreements, and procurement policies.
“There is no place in these materials for race- or sex-based preferences, diversity hiring targets, or preferential treatment based on DEI- or DEIA-related criteria,” she asserted.
Bondi mandated that Justice Department entities provide reports by March 15 confirming the termination of DEI and “environmental justice” programs and identifying any federal contractors that have supplied DEI training or resources to department employees since Trump assumed office.
**Reinstating the Federal Death Penalty**
Bondi announced the end of the federal execution moratorium that was enacted during the Biden presidency. She committed that the department lawyers would "evaluate all potential avenues to strengthen the federal death penalty as a valid means of punishment for the heinous crimes it is intended to punish."
She also criticized Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment prior to Trump taking office. In her memo, Bondi proposed organizing a public forum for victims’ families to discuss the personal impact of these commutations. Additionally, she instructed federal prosecutors' offices to support local prosecutors in pursuing death sentences under state law when appropriate.
Her orders extended to the Federal Bureau of Prisons to implement stricter conditions for the inmates involved, aligning their treatment with the security risks they present.
**Sanctuary Cities**
Bondi reignited a long-standing conflict over “sanctuary jurisdictions,” or cities and counties that have opted out of enforcing federal immigration laws. She ordered the Justice Department to “pause the distribution of all funds until a review has been completed” regarding financial grants or other funds to these jurisdictions.
A similar move by Attorney General Jeff Sessions during Trump’s first term led to various lawsuits from localities claiming the department lacked the authority to cut off funding. Courts delivered mixed ruling outcomes, with a federal appeals court in Chicago indicating that the Trump administration might have overstepped Congressional authority in restricting grants, while a New York appeals court upheld the DOJ’s policy.
Moreover, Bondi ordered a 60-day freeze on all DOJ grants or contracts to organizations providing services to "illegal or removable aliens."
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
