DOJ civil staff numbers plunge as workload surges under Trump administration
Internal documents reveal that the Justice Department’s civil division has lost thousands of attorneys since Trump returned to the White House, causing a sharp rise in case loads.
Documents obtained by reporters indicate that the Justice Department’s civil side has been hit by a wave of resignations and firings since Donald Trump resumed the presidency in January 2025, reducing the attorney count dramatically. Office of Personnel Management data show about 10,000 overall staff losses, including personnel from the FBI and Federal Bureau of Prisons. Charts released inadvertently illustrate that case loads per attorney have jumped dramatically - 84% in commercial litigation, 63% in immigration, 54% in appeals and 44% in the federal programs branch.
Stacey Young, founder of the DOJ alumni network Justice Connection, called the trend a "massive exodus" and said the remaining lawyers are overburdened and stressed. She urged that the department urgently needs more funding and hires to replace veteran counsel, noting that the pace of departures is unlikely to slow.
Why it matters
The staffing crisis threatens the DOJ's ability to handle civil cases effectively, impacting legal outcomes nationwide.
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