Pam Bondi has officially been confirmed as U.S. attorney general following a 54-46 vote in the Senate. Bondi, a strong Trump ally and former Florida attorney general, is expected to make swift changes at the Department of Justice to reverse what many Republicans see as years of partisan law enforcement under the Biden administration.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote for Bondi’s confirmation. Fetterman has previously stated that he believes the cases against Trump were politically motivated. During her confirmation hearing, Bondi assured lawmakers that she would not allow the DOJ to be influenced by partisan agendas.
One of Bondi’s first major actions will be reviewing the DOJ’s treatment of cases related to the January 6 protests. More than 5,000 FBI employees who worked on those cases have had their records collected for review. While no official plans for mass firings have been announced, concerns have surfaced among agents about the possibility of personnel changes.
Bondi will also lead the review of DOJ investigations into Trump, including cases that were overseen by former Special Counsel Jack Smith. Smith stepped down before Trump’s return to office, and two cases against Trump were dismissed due to a long-standing DOJ policy that prevents prosecuting a sitting president. Bondi has suggested that the prosecutors involved in these cases could themselves face scrutiny.
Beyond personnel reviews, Bondi is expected to reverse several key policies enacted under the Biden administration. Among them is a 2023 FBI memo that critics argue unfairly targeted traditional Catholics, as well as a 2021 DOJ directive on alleged threats to school board officials. Trump has also directed a comprehensive review of the DOJ’s actions over the past four years.
Bondi will also oversee the defense of Trump’s executive orders, some of which have already faced legal challenges. Federal judges have temporarily blocked policies such as the administration’s order to freeze federal aid programs and another attempting to end birthright citizenship. Bondi’s leadership marks the beginning of a significant shift in the DOJ’s direction under Trump.
