Several employees at the FBI and the Justice Department allege they were abruptly fired without explanation, and often over minor issues like using pronouns in email signatures.
“One Justice Department lawyer was suspected of being fired because he used ‘he/him’ pronouns in his email signature,” wrote DOJ reporter Perry Stein for The Washington Post on Thursday.
“People interviewed say they believe another attorney was ousted because of a message he put on social media. Others told to leave may not mesh with or may be disliked by Trump’s political appointees, the people said. And some are suspected of speaking to the media without authorization.”
Stein, speaking with FBI and DOJ staff on the condition of anonymity, wrote that many employees were fired without explanation, given only a notice signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi that cited a vague explanation of presidential powers.
Max Stier, who leads the nonprofit organization Partnership for Public Service, which works to improve the effectiveness of the federal government, told The Washington Post the abrupt firings have frequently led to turnover at both agencies.
“Many, many lawyers have resigned on their own power because they saw the writing on the wall,” Stier said. “They understood if they didn’t leave on their own volition they would be subject to firing – or if they stayed they felt they couldn’t uphold their oath in a way that was consistent with their integrity.”
President Donald Trump has long vowed to shrink the federal government, both in spending and staffing, and the FBI and DOJ, which he has viewed as politically hostile over his legal troubles in 2024, have been no exception. More than a dozen DOJ lawyers who were involved in prosecuting Trump were fired just days into the president’s second term.