More than 1,200 former Department of Justice employees sent a letter urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General [1].
The effort represents a significant internal rebellion from the DOJ's professional ranks, signaling deep distrust of the nominee's leadership and his approach to the department's career staff.
The signatories, which include DOJ alumni, targeted the nomination of Blanche, who currently serves as acting Attorney General. The letter argues that Blanche has failed to uphold his oath of office and has targeted the agency's apolitical workforce [2].
According to the letter, "Todd Blanche has created a culture of fear at the Department of Justice" [3]. The former employees said that these actions have had an impact that extends beyond the immediate leadership of the agency.
"The consequences of Blanche’s attacks on DOJ’s apolitical workforce radiate beyond the halls of Main Justice," the former employees said [3].
The group's appeal to the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., comes as the committee prepares for the confirmation process [1]. The letter emphasizes that the nominee's conduct has undermined the traditional independence of the department's legal professionals [2].
Blanche was nominated by President Donald Trump for the full-time position. The pushback from more than 1,200 former colleagues [1] highlights a widening divide between the administration's political appointments and the career civil servants tasked with executing federal law.
“"Todd Blanche has created a culture of fear at the Department of Justice."”
This mass mobilization of former DOJ officials suggests a concerted effort to warn the Senate that Blanche's leadership may compromise the department's neutrality. By framing the issue as a violation of the oath of office and a threat to the apolitical workforce, the signatories are attempting to shift the confirmation debate from political alignment to professional ethics and institutional stability.
