President Donald Trump has removed Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general, ending her year-long tenure at the Justice Department amid mounting frustration over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and what he viewed as insufficient aggression in prosecuting his political opponents .
Trump announced Bondi’s departure in a Truth Social post on April 1, 2026, praising her as a “Great American Patriot and a loyal friend” while noting she would be “transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector” . Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will serve as acting attorney general .
The decision came after weeks of reports that Trump had discussed firing Bondi. Sources told multiple outlets that the president had become increasingly frustrated with her performance on two key fronts: the sluggish release of records related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and what he saw as her failure to aggressively investigate and prosecute his political enemies .
Bondi drew fierce bipartisan criticism over the Epstein files after the Justice Department released approximately 3 million heavily redacted pages—far less than the 5.5 million pages Congress had mandated. Critics accused her of a “cover-up,” with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) telling her at a February hearing, “This cover-up spans decades, and you are responsible for this portion of it” .
Trump also publicly pressured Bondi on social media to take legal action against New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey, and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). However, judges dismissed indictments against James and Comey, and grand juries refused to pursue new charges against Schiff .
Bondi’s ouster marks the second Cabinet-level dismissal in Trump’s second term. He removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on March 5, replacing her with former Sen. Markwayne Mullin .
Reports indicate Trump is considering Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin as Bondi’s permanent replacement, though any nominee will require Senate confirmation .
