WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has initiated a reshuffling of senior staff across various divisions in anticipation of the likely confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Pam Bondi. This transition includes the reassignment of around 20 officials, as reported by several sources familiar with the situation who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of personnel changes.
Among those affected is Bruce Swartz, who has served as the head of the Justice Department’s office of international affairs, a division responsible for handling extraditions. Another notable figure undergoing reassignment is George Toscas, a long-serving deputy assistant attorney general within the national security division. Toscas has played a significant role in overseeing high-profile terrorism and espionage investigations, as well as politically sensitive inquiries over the past decade, including investigations into Hillary Clinton’s management of classified information and Donald Trump’s retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago property.
The precise motivations behind these personnel changes were not made clear immediately. While it is typical for new administrations to appoint political appointees at the top tiers of the Justice Department, it is unusual for career attorneys to be reassigned. These career professionals typically continue their service regardless of which political party is in power, maintaining their roles even during transitions.
This leadership shift could herald future alterations within the department, particularly given Trump’s intense focus on the Justice Department, which scrutinized him during his first term through a special counsel and led to two separate indictments last year. Those cases were withdrawn after Trump secured his election victory in November. Recently, Jay Bratt, a veteran prosecutor involved in the classified documents inquiry, announced his retirement.
Trump’s objections to the investigations have raised concerns that he might exploit the Justice Department’s law enforcement capabilities to exact revenge on perceived enemies. On his first day in office, Trump took significant action by pardoning, commuting the sentences of, or pledging to dismiss charges against more than 1,500 individuals who had been charged with offenses related to the January 6, 2021, incident at the U.S. Capitol, including individuals convicted for assaulting law enforcement officers. The reassignments were initially reported by the Washington Post.
