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By Gabe Whisnant
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President Donald Trump on Thursday praised former Attorney General Pam Bondi following her dismissal, calling her a loyal ally and crediting her with overseeing what he described as a significant reduction in crime.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said Bondi will move to a job in the private sector, while Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will serve as acting attorney general. Three people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Thursday that Trump has privately discussed Lee Zeldin, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, as a permanent pick.
Trump posted, "Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year. Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900. We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future, and our Deputy Attorney General, and a very talented and respected Legal Mind, Todd Blanche, will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP."
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Bondi marks the second person removed from Trump's cabinet in recent weeks. Kristi Noem was ousted as Homeland Security secretary on March 5.
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Why Was Pam Bondi Fired?
Bondi was fired as attorney general after months of mounting tension with President Trump over her handling of high‑profile Justice Department matters and her failure to meet his demands for criminal cases against political adversaries. People familiar with the matter told the Associated Press that Trump grew increasingly frustrated with scrutiny surrounding the department’s handling of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation, as well as unsuccessful prosecutions and aborted cases targeting figures the president viewed as enemies.
As criticism intensified—within both parties and even from some Republicans—Trump privately discussed removing Bondi before announcing her departure Thursday.
Bondi’s tenure was marked by aggressive efforts to align the Justice Department closely with Trump, including the firing of career prosecutors, the opening of investigations into his critics, and a breakdown of traditional independence between the White House and federal law enforcement. Those actions fueled the resignations of hundreds of Justice Department employees and drew accusations that the agency was being weaponized for political ends.
While Trump praised Bondi as a loyal ally and credited her with crime reductions, her departure followed bipartisan concern over the department’s turbulence, and her stalled efforts to deliver on the president’s most politically charged demands.
Later Thursday, Bondi spoke out about her ouster. She called the job “the honor of a lifetime” and said she would be working over the next month to transition the position to Blanche.
Who is Todd Blanche?
Todd Blanche is the deputy attorney general and a longtime legal ally of Trump who previously served as one of the president’s criminal defense lawyers. Trump said Blanche will step in as acting attorney general, placing him in charge of the Justice Department on an interim basis while the White House considers a permanent replacement. Blanche has played a central role in overseeing DOJ operations and defending the administration's legal positions.
Blanche said in a post on X, "Pam Bondi led this Department with strength and conviction and I’m grateful for her leadership and friendship. Thank you to President Trump for the trust and the opportunity to serve as Acting Attorney General. We will continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing everything in our power to keep America safe."
What Does the Attorney General Do?
The attorney general is the nation’s top law enforcement official and oversees the Department of Justice, including federal prosecutors, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies. The attorney general sets enforcement priorities, provides legal advice to the president and federal agencies, and represents the United States in major legal matters, while also being expected to maintain the department’s independence from political influence.
Updates: 4/2/26, 5:51 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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