White House Fires Multiple US Attorneys in Justice Department Shakeup

In a move that has sent ripples through the Justice Department, the White House on Wednesday terminated multiple U.S. attorneys, marking a period of significant upheaval under President Donald Trump's administration. The full scope of the terminations remains unclear as of Thursday morning, with neither the White House nor the Justice Department providing an immediate figure for the number of U.S. attorneys affected out of the nation's 93 federal court districts.

While the departure of U.S. attorneys nominated by former President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate had been anticipated, their swift termination by the White House deviates from historical precedents. Typically, politically appointed U.S. attorneys were asked to resign by the Justice Department.

Impact on U.S. Attorneys

The terminations have impacted at least two court-appointed U.S. attorneys, including a career federal prosecutor with experience in Jan. 6 cases. Notably, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Tara McGrath received formal notification of her termination from the White House, directly at the President's instruction, as stated in a press release from McGrath's office. Similarly, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, Ismail Ramsey, also received a termination letter from the White House, according to a source familiar with the matter.

U.S. Attorney for Maryland Erek L. Barron and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Dena J. King both announced their departures on Wednesday but refrained from disclosing the reasons behind their decisions. McGrath, Ramsey, Barron, and King were all Biden nominees who had been confirmed by the Senate.

Tessa Gorman, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, who was a court-appointed top federal prosecutor, was also removed from her position, according to a spokesperson. Gorman initially assumed the role in an acting capacity before being officially appointed by former Attorney General Merrick Garland. In May 2024, the judges of the Western District of Washington formally named her to the position.

Unusual White House Involvement

The White House's direct involvement in these firings is unprecedented, as such decisions typically originate from the Justice Department. During Trump's first term, Attorney General Jeff Sessions requested resignations from U.S. Attorneys, and only one U.S. attorney was terminated after refusing to resign. During Biden's term, Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys were asked to resign and given three weeks to depart by a set date, while interim U.S. attorneys who were not Senate-confirmed, including those appointed by courts, remained in their positions. This action also stemmed from the Justice Department.

Turbulence within the Justice Department

Since Trump assumed office 24 days ago, the Justice Department has been engulfed in a period of immense turmoil. The unrest began on the day of Trump's inauguration when he issued a mass pardon for Jan. 6 rioters convicted in the largest federal investigation in American history and subsequently appointed an advocate for Capitol rioters as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

Further exacerbating the situation, Trump's acting deputy attorney general, who himself had worked on Jan. 6 cases, fired federal prosecutors originally assigned to Capitol cases and demanded a list of FBI employees who investigated the Capitol siege. The Trump administration also sought a list of probationary FBI employees, raising concerns about potential mass firings that could have long-lasting repercussions for the bureau.