President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, as his nominee for U.S. attorney general.
Bondi, who held the position from 2011 to 2019, is a longstanding ally of Trump and served as one of his legal representatives during his first impeachment trial. Currently, she heads the legal division of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank established by former Trump administration staffers.
In announcing her selection, Trump praised Bondi’s extensive experience, stating: "Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, taking a tough stance against violent criminals and ensuring the safety of Florida families. As Florida's first female attorney general, she fought against drug trafficking and worked to combat the tragic impact of fentanyl overdoses, which have devastated many families across our nation. She did such an exceptional job that I invited her to join our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first term — we saved many lives!"
Trump further commented: "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans — that ends now. Pam will restore the DOJ’s focus on its fundamental mission: fighting crime and making America safe again."
The role of attorney general is crucial to Trump's agenda for his second term, as he aims to increase accountability within the department and pursue his perceived adversaries. Trump's Vice President-elect, JD Vance, emphasized that the attorney general position is the second most important in the administration after the president.
The new attorney general will be responsible for enforcing Trump's policies while managing a department with over 115,000 employees, which handles criminal prosecutions, business regulation, civil rights protection, and legal defense for U.S. laws.
Bondi’s appointment continues Trump’s trend of selecting former legal advisors for top positions in his administration. Recently, he named former federal prosecutor Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general and Emil Bove as principal associate deputy attorney general, who will serve as acting deputy until Blanche's confirmation. Both men defended Trump in various legal matters, including a New York criminal case in which he was found guilty of 34 felony counts, though he has yet to be sentenced.
Trump’s previous nominee for attorney general, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, faced significant controversy due to allegations involving sex parties and misconduct, which he has denied. These allegations had been under investigation by the FBI since 2021, but no charges were ever filed. Some lawmakers expressed concerns about Gaetz's temperament and experience for a role traditionally associated with independence and impartiality in law enforcement.