Story perspectives

Trump Praises Wave of Federal Lawyer Resignations, 10,000 Depart

6/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump called the mass exit of federal lawyers a positive development.
More than 10,000 civilian lawyers left the U.S. government from late 2024 through March 2026, leaving about 37,000 employed.
Since December 2024 the administration has lost 53% of Education Department lawyers and 40% of Housing and Urban Development lawyers.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the administration remains committed to hiring qualified public-service lawyers despite the departures.

History

Historical Context

During the 1973 Watergate crisis, Attorney General Elliot Richardson resigned in the October “Saturday Night Massacre,” and the Judiciary Committee’s impeachment staff grew to 100 people, including 43 attorneys. The 2024-2026 departure of thousands of civilian lawyers from agencies such as Education and HUD mirrors that historic loss of legal expertise, spurring accelerated hiring.

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Story summary

President Donald Trump called the mass exit of federal lawyers a positive development.
More than 10,000 civilian lawyers left the U.S. government from late 2024 through March 2026, leaving about 37,000 employed.
Since December 2024 the administration has lost 53% of Education Department lawyers and 40% of Housing and Urban Development lawyers.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the administration remains committed to hiring qualified public-service lawyers despite the departures.

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