Trump lawyer exodus leaves Justice Department understaffed, fuels state offices

The loss of more than 10,000 federal lawyers has done more than shrink payrolls in Washington. It has weakened the government’s ability to write rules, enforce them, and defend them in court, while state attorneys general offices and advocacy groups have absorbed many of the lawyers leaving federal service.

More than 9,000 attorneys left federal government jobs in 2025, including more than 500 at the Justice Department. The government filled a little over 2,000 of those positions, leaving a net loss of 7,044 federal lawyers. A congressional document said roughly 10,000 attorneys worked across the Justice Department and its components, including the FBI, before the wave of departures began, which shows how quickly the loss of even a few thousand lawyers can affect the machinery of federal power.

The deepest cuts have hit the parts of DOJ most closely tied to governing. In the Federal Programs Branch, 69 of roughly 110 lawyers had voluntarily left or announced plans to leave by July 2025. The Civil Rights Division lost about 70% to 75% of its attorneys. Those are the lawyers who defend federal policies against court challenges, handle emergency litigation, and help the government answer suits from states trying to stop rulemaking and enforcement actions.

The departures have also shifted talent toward the other side of the political and legal map. Private law firms, prosecutors’ offices, state attorneys general and advocacy groups have all benefited from the exodus, gaining lawyers with years of experience inside the federal government. Justice Connection, founded in 2025 by former DOJ career attorney Stacey Young, has become a support network for departing and former DOJ employees, offering help with pro bono legal representation, employment, media relations and mental health support.

The Trump administration has tried to rebuild the pipeline through the Office of Personnel Management’s Attorney Talent Network, which allows attorneys to upload resumes, connect with recruiters and sign up for job alerts. The Justice Department says it still has more than 10,000 lawyers and is prioritizing public safety and immigration enforcement, but the staffing losses have already tilted the balance of power toward states and outside groups that are increasingly better resourced to challenge federal policy in court.