Federal attorneys are increasingly leaving government posts to join Democratic state attorneys general's offices, bolstering a legal coalition that is challenging the Trump administration's agenda. A review of public records identified over 100 attorneys who departed federal service after January 2025 and subsequently joined offices led by Democratic attorneys general, often becoming involved in litigation against the administration.
Since the beginning of 2025, employment data indicates that more than 10,000 federal attorneys, approximately one-fifth of the federal government's legal workforce, have left their positions. While the review does not establish the specific reasons for individual departures, many of these former federal lawyers have now surfaced in legal actions targeting Trump's policies. These challenges span various areas, including efforts to restrict transgender healthcare for minors, the termination of research grants, attempts to limit the power of FTC commissioners, and disputes over National Guard deployments.
Attorneys general in Democratic-led states have been coordinating their legal strategies, holding regular meetings since 2024 to discuss joint lawsuits and public engagement. This collaboration is seen as critical to resisting the Trump administration and defending state-level policies that may conflict with federal interests. Lawyers with expertise in civil rights, immigration, environmental law, public corruption, and antitrust were notably represented among those who moved from federal service to Democratic state offices.
Many of these attorneys had long careers in federal service, with some possessing one or two decades of experience. For example, one attorney who served for approximately twenty years in the Justice Department, rising to assistant general counsel, is now a senior assistant attorney general in Colorado, working on cases involving federal grants. Other significant departures include legal professionals from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, and various U.S. attorneys' offices.
The Department of Justice, however, disputes that these departures have significantly impacted its efficiency. A DOJ spokeswoman stated that the department has indicted substantially more criminals than the previous administration and highlighted achievements such as reducing the murder rate and seizing large quantities of fentanyl. The department also noted that it has hired approximately 3,200 attorneys since January 2025 and actively recruits ideologically aligned lawyers.
While over 10,000 federal attorneys have left, agencies have also hired new staff. The primary agencies experiencing departures included the DOJ, the Department of Education, and the Environmental Protection Agency. California, Maryland, New York, and Colorado were among the most frequent destinations for these attorneys after leaving federal roles. The DOJ spokeswoman characterized some departures as a natural transition, with employees aligning with different political priorities, and suggested that the administration intentionally sought to reduce government size and eliminate unnecessary staff.