As many as 22 Biden-appointed U.S. attorneys had their government-issued devices deactivated Friday before officially being fired by the Trump administration today. The move signals an aggressive effort to reshape the Justice Department under the new administration.
Key Facts:
- 22 Biden-appointed U.S. attorneys had their government-issued phones and computers deactivated Friday without prior notice.
- Trump officially fired them today, following the dismissal of other holdovers on February 12.
- Impacted prosecutors include officials from Philadelphia, Tampa, Arizona, Oregon, and western Texas.
- Unclear coordination with DOJ headquarters, as past administrations typically handle such transitions more systematically.
- Trump defended the decision, stating on Truth Social, “We must clean house IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence.”
The Rest of The Story:
The sudden deactivation of government-issued devices left several U.S. attorneys scrambling over the weekend, uncertain about their status.
While it is routine for a new president to replace U.S. attorneys from a prior administration, the abruptness of the process raised questions about coordination with the Department of Justice.
Some of the impacted attorneys had been appointed by Biden and confirmed by the Senate, yet they remained listed in their positions up until today’s terminations.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove had already been tightening control over the department, ordering prosecutors to prioritize Trump administration policies, particularly on immigration and public safety.
Ultimately, any lingering uncertainty was resolved when Trump formally ordered the Justice Department to fire the remaining Biden-era prosecutors.
In a statement on Truth Social, he framed the decision as necessary to restore trust in the justice system.
“We must “clean house” IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.” America’s Golden Age must have a fair Justice System – THAT BEGINS TODAY!”
🚨BREAKING: President Trump instructs the termination of ALL “Biden Era” U.S. attorneys. pic.twitter.com/UtuH2AFlRA
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 18, 2025
Commentary:
Presidents replacing U.S. attorneys from previous administrations is nothing new.
Bill Clinton dismissed 93 U.S. attorneys upon taking office in 1993, and Biden replaced nearly all of Trump’s appointees in 2021.
The media’s reaction, however, suggests selective outrage, as Trump is merely following a well-established precedent.
What is unusual is how these attorneys had their devices disabled on Friday, days before their actual firing.
This suggests either poor internal communication or a deliberate strategy to immediately cut off their access to DOJ systems.
Regardless, this move aligns with Trump’s broader effort to “clean house.”
His administration has made it clear that it will not tolerate officials who do not align with its priorities.
Many of these dismissed prosecutors were likely viewed as obstacles to Trump’s agenda on immigration enforcement, public safety, and judicial reform.
The Justice Department under Biden became increasingly politicized, with prosecutions often appearing driven by ideology rather than law.
Trump’s rapid reshuffling of federal prosecutors is a signal that the DOJ will be firmly under his administration’s control.
Given how entrenched bureaucracy can resist reform, this was the only way to make real change and insure the DOJ would no longer be weaponized.
The Justice Department serves the sitting president, and Trump has every right to appoint officials who will enforce his policies.
The bigger story is what comes next as his administration continues to root out opposition within federal agencies.
The Bottom Line:
Trump’s decision to fire the remaining Biden-era U.S. attorneys is part of a standard transition process, though the manner in which it was peculiar.
What matters now is how Trump’s new team will reshape the DOJ to reflect his administration’s priorities.
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