More than 10,000 federal lawyers have left their posts since January 2025, with a significant number joining Democratic state attorneys general's offices to challenge the Trump administration's second-term agenda.
According to public data and court filings, over 100 of these lawyers have joined Democratic attorneys general's offices, where they are now involved in cases challenging the Trump administration. The true number of federal attorneys who have made the move is likely higher, as not all lawyers have public LinkedIn profiles.
Many of these attorneys have decades of experience working in the federal government, including in the Justice Department, and have taken their skills to Democratic-led state offices to work on cases such as consumer protection, federal overreach, and environmental protection.
Attorneys general in states such as Oregon, California, and Maryland have welcomed the transfer of talent from the federal government, citing their expertise in areas such as civil rights, immigration, and antitrust law.
Colorado's senior assistant attorney general, who previously worked at the Justice Department for nearly two decades, is one example of the high-level departures. Other notable departures include the assistant chief counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services and multiple U.S. attorneys' office division chiefs.
The timing of these departures marks a notable change from the first Trump administration, when similar attorneys remained in federal service. The reasons for individual departures vary, but experts suggest that the conservative movement's struggle to attract competent elites may be a factor.
Federal agencies have also hired roughly 3,200 attorneys since January 2025, and the Trump administration has made efforts to recruit ideologically aligned lawyers to apply for roles. However, the mass exit of lawyers has harmed the administration's ability to defend its policies, particularly in the area of immigration.
The Trump administration disputes these claims, pointing to its achievements in areas such as law enforcement and the Supreme Court. However, the exodus of lawyers has undoubtedly reshaped the federal government's workforce and may have significant implications for the administration's ability to implement its agenda.
The Democratic attorneys general's offices, meanwhile, have welcomed the transfer of talent and are using it to challenge the Trump administration's policies. As one attorney general noted, the cross-state collaboration is "critical" in their efforts to resist the Trump administration.
The impact of these departures will likely be felt for years to come, as the federal government's workforce continues to evolve and adapt to changing priorities and policies.
