Trump Shuffles Deck of Dept. of Justice Employees

Trump administration reshuffles key DOJ officials, including Mar-a-Lago raid figure George Toscas, in a strategic power realignment.

At a Glance

  • Trump administration reassigns over a dozen career Justice Department officials
  • George Toscas, key figure in Mar-a-Lago raid, moved to Office of Sanctuary Cities Enforcement
  • Reassignments seen as part of Trump’s plan to prevent perceived DOJ partisan manipulation
  • Some transferred employees may choose to resign rather than accept new roles
  • Move follows dismissal of classified documents case against Trump in July 2024

DOJ Overhaul Targets Key Officials

The Trump administration has initiated a sweeping overhaul within the Department of Justice, reassigning over a dozen career officials to new roles with diminished influence on major departmental decisions. This strategic realignment affects at least 15 longtime DOJ employees, including those involved in the controversial FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago.

Among the most notable reassignments is that of Deputy Assistant Attorney General George Toscas, a central figure in the Mar-a-Lago raid. Toscas has been moved to the DOJ’s newly created Office of Sanctuary Cities Enforcement, a position that significantly reduces his authority within the department.

Trump’s Strategy to Counter ‘Weaponization’

The reassignments appear to be part of former President Donald Trump’s comprehensive plan to prevent what he perceives as the DOJ’s partisan manipulation against him. Trump has consistently criticized the department’s actions as “weaponization” and vowed to end such practices if re-elected.

“Toscas fumed to FBI officials that he didn’t “give a damn about the optics” of an unprecedented raid of a former president’s home during a combative call between the DOJ and the bureau’s Washington Field Office ahead of the issuance of a warrant to search for the documents,” court filings in former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s dismissed classified documents case against Trump said.

This reorganization follows a series of legal battles involving Trump and the DOJ, including the Mar-a-Lago raid and the subsequent classified documents case. In July 2024, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case, ruling Jack Smith’s appointment as Special Counsel unconstitutional.

Impact on DOJ Personnel and Operations

The reassignments have raised concerns about the potential loss of expertise within the DOJ. Toscas, in particular, has been recognized for his extensive knowledge in counterintelligence and counterterrorism.

“He has seen everything in both counterterrorism and counterintelligence,” a former DOJ National Security Division employee anonymously told the outlet. “There is no one in the department who knows as much about prosecuting and investigating terrorists and spies as George Toscas.”

Some transferred employees may choose to resign rather than accept their new roles, potentially leading to a significant brain drain within the department. This situation has sparked debate about the long-term implications for the DOJ’s operational effectiveness and institutional knowledge.

Background: Mar-a-Lago Raid and Its Aftermath

The reassignments come in the wake of the controversial Mar-a-Lago raid, which took place on August 8, 2022. Federal agents conducted a search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in Florida, an unprecedented action against a former president.

The investigation began in early 2022 when the National Archives retrieved 15 boxes of records from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Subsequently, Trump was subpoenaed for additional documents, and the FBI raid found over 100 more classified documents.