Justice Department's Voting Section Experiences Staff Changes

The U.S. According to former attorneys, the section had around 30 attorneys at the start of the administration, but three months later, only two remained. These departing lawyers have been replaced by about half a dozen new hires, some of whom have limited federal court experience.

Former Voting Section lawyers stated that the new staff have filed multiple lawsuits seeking unredacted voter rolls from states. They also noted errors in court filings by the new attorneys. The section was established after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to enforce federal laws protecting voting rights.

former attorney, referred to as Alex to protect his identity, said he observed the dismissal of cases shortly after the inauguration. Alex, who worked in the section for many years, described a shift in priorities that differed from the first Trump administration.

Other former lawyers reported similar experiences, including requests to dismiss active cases. On February 4, 2025, the Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as attorney general. The next day, Bondi issued memos directing DOJ lawyers to advocate for the president's policies.

Former attorneys said these directives impacted the Voting Section, leading to the dismissal of cases until few remained active.

Former attorneys described this data-sharing as unprecedented. In April 2025, the Senate confirmed Harmeet Dhillon as assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division. Under Dhillon, the Voting Section issued a new mission statement focused on voter integrity and implementing the executive order, with less emphasis on Voting Rights Act enforcement.

Former attorneys said this represented a change from the section's traditional work.

sent letters on April 25, 2025, temporarily transferring senior managers to the DOJ's complaint adjudication office, which handles issues like Bureau of Prisons complaints. Recipients of these letters resigned, including long-term staff with decades of experience.

Former attorneys stated that this led to the loss of institutional knowledge in the section. New hires include Michael Gates, who joined as a deputy attorney general in February 2025. The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the new lawyers, but spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated that federal laws give the DOJ authority to ensure states maintain accurate voter rolls.

“They've turned what was previously the crown jewel of the Civil Rights Division, the Voting Section, into a weapon against voters.”

Eileen O’Connor, a former Voting Section trial attorney now at the Brennan Center for Justice, said the current work opposes the section's historical role in enforcing voting rights laws. Michelle Kanter Cohen of the Fair Elections Center stated that the section is now being used to further conspiracy theories.

Another former lawyer, referred to as Jamie, reported being asked to dismiss cases in the administration's first week. Former attorneys expressed concerns that the changes could affect election oversight, particularly with midterms approaching in November 2026.

They suggested the focus on voter rolls might generate information to challenge election results. The section's traditional role involved protecting against discrimination and ensuring fair voting access.