Justice Department's Voting Section Experiences Staff Changes

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.