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Last week in Washington, the news spread quickly: Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Justice had withdrawn his name from consideration amid scrutiny surrounding a questionable dating history alleged to involve minors, drugs, and money. The collective sigh of relief from DOJ employees was palpable.
“We dodged a bullet,” one federal prosecutor texted me shortly after the announcement of Gaetz’s exit. Another quipped, “How did we get so fortunate?” A former prosecutor chimed in with hope: “Maybe the Republic still stands a chance.”
Throughout the capital, DOJ staffers and their peers were left hoping for a similar stroke of luck. With Trump poised to return to Washington with a cadre of loyalists ready to fill his Cabinet, 4.5 million federal employees are gearing up for a cultural shift of unprecedented proportions—one that could eclipse the upheaval seen during Trump’s first term, eight years ago. Many believe that back then, Trump was constrained by two key factors: a lack of understanding of the full power of an unchecked presidency, and a circle of advisors primarily composed of traditional CEOs who, while accommodating, did not fully align with his more extreme ambitions. This time, however, Trump appears more informed about the scope of presidential authority and is selecting his team from a pool of reality TV-inspired figures who share his agenda of vengeance and retribution.
Trump is assembling what could be the least experienced Cabinet in decades—one filled with controversies and dubious qualifications. Many nominees are bypassing the customary FBI background checks, instead being evaluated based on their media appearances and how well they resonate with Trump’s preferences. Expertise seems to take a backseat to the candidates’ charisma and performance on Fox News.
Take, for example, Matt Gaetz, who was swiftly nominated and even more quickly fell from grace as Trump’s first choice for Attorney General. Gaetz has minimal legal experience and none in managing a large organization. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that he had been under investigation by the very department he was set to lead, with an ethics report expected to reveal troubling details about his relationships with minors. Even his staunchest MAGA supporters foresaw problems ahead. In just eight days, Gaetz went from Congressman to Cabinet hopeful to disgraced figure. Currently, Pam Bondi, a former Florida Attorney General known for her loyalty to Trump and flirtation with election fraud theories, has stepped in as a less controversial interim replacement.
The concerns about qualifications and temperament remain for other potential nominees such as Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The fallout from Gaetz’s withdrawal has not alleviated the growing frustrations among Senate Republicans, as Trump continues to push them towards acceptance of his increasingly outrageous team.
Moreover, it’s not solely about the top positions. Trump and his supporters are keen on placing loyalists throughout the ranks, facilitating sweeping changes at all levels of government. This includes a widely anticipated mandatory return-to-office policy that could significantly reduce the workforce. This shift is viewed as an opportunity to reshape the federal workforce, influencing even private sector employment practices. Trump is prepared to show many federal employees the exit if they have become too accustomed to remote work.
Federal workers—who represent the largest group of employees operating under a single system in the nation—find themselves largely at the mercy of their incoming leader, who has expressed disdain for the career officials he perceives as disloyal or part of a so-called Deep State. The new wave of officials is poised to enforce Trump’s directives.
For the moment, it appears that DOJ veterans have been spared from working under an inexperienced leader whose primary skill set lies in maintaining favor with Trump. However, their counterparts across the federal government may not be so fortunate.
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