Attorney General Pam Bondi has dismissed Elizabeth Baxter, a paralegal in the Department of Justice’s Environmental Defense Section, after Baxter allegedly made repeated obscene gestures toward National Guard members stationed in Washington, D.C. The decision is part of Bondi’s broader push to enforce strict respect for law enforcement within the DOJ and to reshape internal norms around conduct and loyalty.

The first incident occurred on August 18, 2025, when Baxter arrived at the DOJ’s 4CON building and reportedly told a security guard that she had just flipped off a National Guard member at the Metro Center station, saying, “F-k the National Guard.” Later that day, surveillance footage allegedly captured her raising her middle finger again toward Guard personnel while shouting profanities. Witnesses within the department corroborated the behavior, prompting a formal investigation.

A week later, on August 25, Baxter is said to have repeated the conduct, telling a DOJ security guard that she “hated” the National Guard and again using vulgar language. Bondi framed these actions as more than just isolated outbursts — she argued they demonstrated a pattern of ideological opposition rather than a momentary lapse in judgment.

Baxter was terminated in a formal memo. In her removal letter, Bondi cited “inappropriate conduct toward National Guard service members” and stripped Baxter of her position and federal status with immediate effect. The letter reportedly mentioned Baxter’s position and grade within the DOJ, underscoring the seriousness of the violation.

This firing comes shortly after the dismissal of another DOJ paralegal, Sean Charles Dunn, who was accused of throwing a sandwich at a federal officer while shouting insults. Bondi has made clear that both dismissals reflect her zero-tolerance policy for what she sees as disrespect or resistance to law enforcement within the department.

Bondi publicly connected Baxter’s termination to her broader agenda. She positioned the firings as part of a “refocusing” of the DOJ around law-and-order values, warning that employees who oppose the mission and disrespect security personnel would no longer remain in federal service. This message serves both as disciplinary enforcement and a cultural signal about the values she expects in her DOJ.

Together, these actions highlight a tense intersection between professional conduct, political ideology, and federal employment standards. Critics have raised concerns about politicization of civil service, while supporters argue the measures are necessary to uphold proper behavior and allegiance within a law-enforcement-focused administration.