Donald Trump has fired Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, dismissing a loyalist who had reshaped the justice department. In a post on social media, the president announced that Bondi would transition to “a much needed and important new job in the private sector”. He added that Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, would serve as acting attorney general.
According to media reports, Mr Trump is considering removing other officials in his cabinet. The president is said to be unhappy with the performance of Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the labor secretary, and commerce secretary Howard Lutnick. An unnamed administration official told Politico: “He’s very angry and he’s going to be moving people.” Mr Trump has also reportedly polled advisers about replacing Tulsi Gabbard as intelligence chief.
Significant staffing changes are underway at the Pentagon, where defense secretary Pete Hegseth ousted the army’s top officer and two other high-ranking officials on Thursday. The defense department confirmed that Randy George, a general and army chief of staff, stepped down after being asked to take early retirement. The Washington Post reported that David Hodne, commanding general of the army transformation and training command, and Maj Gen William Green Jr, the army’s chief of chaplains, were also removed.
Mr Hegseth also announced that service members will be allowed to carry personal firearms on military installations in the US, effectively overhauling a 1992 rule that barred civilians and off-duty military personnel from carrying guns on bases.
Elsewhere, the US Department of the Interior said it would further reduce its staff with a deferred resignation program and offers of voluntary early retirement. Secretary Doug Burgum described the move as part of a “strategic initiative to improve resource management” and to streamline “outdated bureaucracy”.
In a separate development, Donald Trump lavished praise on the National Capital Planning Commission on Thursday afternoon, describing the body as “hardworking” after authorities approved his $400m ballroom project.
