Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said last Wednesday that he is effectively running the Department of Justice [1].

This admission highlights a significant shift in the independence of the nation's top law-enforcement office. By placing a former personal attorney at the helm, the administration signals a direct alignment between the executive branch and the Department of Justice's prosecutorial priorities.

Blanche, who previously served as personal counsel to former President Donald Trump, spoke to reporters in Washington, D.C. [1]. He said his current role is the primary authority within the department [1].

"I’m the one who runs the DOJ," Blanche said [1].

According to reports, the appointment is intended to ensure that investigations and policy decisions remain consistent with the agenda of the former president [1]. This move places a trusted ally in a position to steer the legal direction of the U.S. government, a role traditionally viewed as insulated from direct political interference.

The Department of Justice headquarters serves as the center for these operational changes. Blanche's leadership comes at a time when the relationship between the presidency and federal prosecutors is under intense scrutiny [1].

Blanche said his appointment reflects a desire to have a loyalist managing the department's internal affairs [1]. This structure allows the administration to maintain tight control over which cases are pursued and how federal law is applied across the country [1].

“"I’m the one who runs the DOJ,"”

The installation of a former personal lawyer as Acting Attorney General suggests a departure from the historical norm of Department of Justice independence. By explicitly stating that he runs the department to serve a specific political agenda, Blanche confirms that the DOJ is currently operating as an extension of the executive's personal will rather than as an autonomous legal entity.