A significant number of federal lawyers are leaving the Trump administration and taking up positions in Democratic state attorneys general’s offices, as blue states intensify their legal actions against the administration’s second-term agenda, according to a review by Fox News Digital.
Data from the New York Times reveals that over 10,000 federal attorneys — about 20% of all lawyers employed by the federal government — have vacated their posts since 2025 began. Fox News Digital’s examination identified over 100 of these attorneys who now work in Democratic attorneys general’s offices, with some involved in cases opposing the Trump administration.
Fox News Digital leveraged public LinkedIn profiles, state staff directories, statements from public officials, and court documents to track these attorneys who left federal service post-January 2025 and later showed up in Democratic attorneys general’s offices or relevant litigation records. It’s important to note that the review doesn’t ascertain the reasons behind any attorney’s departure from federal service.
President Donald Trump celebrated a Supreme Court victory limiting lone federal judges’ authority to block executive actions, highlighting it as a ‘GIANT WIN.’
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, a Democrat, expressed that the Oregon Department of Justice attracts skilled public servants from the U.S. Department of Justice, including experienced lawyers opting to serve at the state level. Rayfield noted their contributions in areas such as consumer protection, federal overreach cases, and environmental protection.
Many attorneys who left federal service after January 2025 are working directly on cases opposing the Trump administration. Court records uncovered show attorneys formerly engaged under the Trump administration now participating in legal actions against it. These legal actions encompass a range of issues, from Massachusetts opposing the Trump administration’s restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors, California challenging its termination of research grants, to multiple cases aiming to rein in the president’s National Guard deployments.
Even if some attorneys’ names don’t directly appear on filings, they contribute significantly to Democratic attorneys general’s efforts to oppose major parts of Trump’s agenda and support state-level policies unfavored by the president.
A regular collaboration between Democratic attorneys general across different states is emphasized as a vital strategy to counteract the Trump administration. They meet consistently to explore joint lawsuits and public engagement strategies.
Federal attorneys experienced in civil rights, immigration, environmental law, public corruption, and antitrust are more likely to transition to work for Democratic attorneys general. These attorneys, mainly career civil servants rather than political appointees, bring significant experience and expertise to Democratic states.
An example includes a lawyer who served for approximately two decades at the Justice Department, rising to assistant general counsel before transitioning to a senior assistant attorney general role in Colorado, tackling disputes over federal grants.
Some other notable departures include the assistant chief counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services, the director of transparency at the Department of Homeland Security, multiple division chiefs from U.S. attorneys’ offices, and another near-20-year DOJ veteran now overseeing Maryland’s attorney general efforts.
Despite significant departures, a DOJ spokeswoman indicated the Trump administration’s continued efficiency, citing numerous criminal indictments and achievements, such as reducing the murder rate and capturing cartel leaders.
The Trump administration asserts successful operations despite the media portrayal of an ‘exodus’ of anti-Trump attorneys, emphasizing the recruitment of ideologically aligned lawyers for federal roles.
Meanwhile, the Democratic attorney general’s offices continue to capitalize on the political transition by integrating experienced federal lawyers to strengthen their legal actions against the Trump administration’s policies.