The Justice Department Has Destroyed Its Voting Rights Section
The Justice Department's Voting Rights Section has been significantly dismantled since Donald Trump's second inauguration in January 2025, with nearly all experienced attorneys replaced by new hires aligned with the administration's agenda. The once-independent unit, established to protect voting rights, is now being used to advance efforts that critics say undermine election integrity and promote conspiracy theories. Experts warn the changes could have long-lasting effects on federal oversight of elections.
- ▪There were approximately 30 attorneys in the DOJ’s Voting Section at the start of Trump’s second term; within three months, only two remained.
- ▪The departing lawyers were replaced by hires with limited federal court experience who have made procedural errors and filed lawsuits seeking unredacted voter rolls.
- ▪Former Voting Section attorneys and experts say the unit has been transformed from a civil rights enforcement body into a political tool to challenge elections.
- ▪The new leadership has aligned the Voting Section with Trump’s directives, including efforts to obtain state voter data under the guise of enforcing federal election laws.
- ▪Pam Bondi was confirmed as attorney general in February 2025, marking a turning point in the department’s shift toward supporting election-related initiatives favored by the administration.
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David GilbertPoliticsApr 29, 2026 6:30 AM‘The Damage Is Massive’: How the Justice Department Dismantled Its Voting Rights SectionThere were around 30 attorneys in the DOJ’s Voting Section on the day of Donald Trump’s second inauguration. Three months later, all but two were gone. Now the election deniers are in control.Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyWhen a new administration moves to Washington, DC, there are always changes in policy priorities and personnel.
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