Trump Fires Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary Kristi Noem

President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, April 7, 2026. The dismissals follow a period of internal instability and a reported Republican rebellion on Capitol Hill sparked by the Department of Justice's mishandling of Jeffrey Epstein files, including missed deadlines and contradictory statements about the files' existence.

Bondi's 14-month tenure included the indictment of political opponents, such as former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, and the firing of prosecutors investigating the president. However, Trump reportedly became frustrated with her inability to effectively execute efforts to target political enemies. While Bondi stated she would remain for one month to transition her office, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was introduced as the acting attorney general at a press conference the following Tuesday.

Blanche, a former personal attorney for the president, has assumed leadership of the agency. Meanwhile, Bondi is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee on April 14. Representative Robert Garcia stated she is legally obligated to appear under oath, though Bondi has not yet committed to testifying. The simultaneous removals of Bondi and Noem suggest a broader shakeup within the administration and have raised concerns regarding long-term damage to the Department of Justice.