Attorney General Pam Bondi’s firing of Desiree Leigh Grace, who was appointed by federal judges to replace Alina Habba as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, is seen as part of a broader campaign to protect President Donald Trump’s agenda. The judges, mostly Democratic appointees, chose Grace as Habba’s 120-day appointment was set to expire. In response, Bondi dismissed Grace, calling the judges “rogue” and accusing them of undermining Trump’s Article II powers.

Bondi praised Habba’s work and criticized the judiciary’s interference. Her deputy, Todd Blanche, went further, accusing judges of colluding with New Jersey’s Democratic senators to obstruct the president’s decisions. Trump then used a procedural tactic to reappoint Habba, withdrawing her pending nomination and reappointing her as acting U.S. Attorney by naming her previous assistant — now a vacant post — as her replacement.

Bondi’s actions are part of a wider pattern of personnel changes targeting federal staff viewed as politically opposed to Trump. Just last week, she fired Maurene Comey, a veteran prosecutor from the Southern District of New York and daughter of former FBI Director James Comey. Comey had prosecuted Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, though the reason for her removal remains unclear.

In recent months, Bondi also removed several Justice Department lawyers involved in the January 6 Capitol riot prosecutions. This included three attorneys directly involved in cases against Trump supporters and Capitol rioters, signaling a purge of perceived internal opposition.

A February shake-up saw interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin reassign key prosecutors who had led successful cases against extremist leaders involved in the Capitol attack. These reassignments followed January firings of two dozen Biden-era prosecutors involved in Capitol riot investigations.

These moves underscore the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the Justice Department, removing officials they see as hostile and reinforcing loyalty across key prosecutorial roles.