Pam Bondi has officially been sworn in as U.S. attorney general following a 54-46 vote in the Senate. Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and longtime Trump supporter, is expected to move quickly to reverse key policies from the Biden administration.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote in favor of Bondi’s confirmation. Fetterman has previously expressed skepticism about the legal cases against Trump, calling them politically motivated. During her confirmation hearing, Bondi assured lawmakers that “justice will be administered evenhandedly throughout this country” and that politics would not play a role in DOJ operations.
Among Bondi’s first actions will be a review of the DOJ’s handling of January 6 cases. More than 5,000 FBI employees who worked on those investigations have had their records submitted for review. Although officials say no large-scale firings are currently planned, there is growing concern among some FBI agents.
Bondi will also be in charge of reviewing former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into Trump. Smith resigned before Trump returned to office, and two cases against the president were dismissed under DOJ precedent that prohibits prosecuting a sitting president. Bondi has previously indicated that those who pushed those cases could face their own investigations.
She is also expected to reverse several Biden-era DOJ policies, including rescinding a controversial 2023 FBI memo that many saw as targeting traditional Catholics and overturning a 2021 directive related to threats at school board meetings. Additionally, she will oversee an administration-wide review of DOJ actions over the last four years.
Bondi’s confirmation comes as the DOJ prepares for legal challenges over new Trump policies. Federal courts have already blocked two of the administration’s executive orders, including one halting federal aid programs and another aimed at ending birthright citizenship. With Bondi now in charge, the DOJ is set for a major shift in direction.
