United States Attorney General

Executive Departments of the United States

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Department Secretaries Marco Rubio • Scott Bessent • Pete Hegseth • Pam Bondi • Doug Burgum • Brooke Rollins • Lori Chavez-DeRemer • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. • Scott Turner • Howard Lutnick • Sean Duffy • Chris Wright • Linda McMahon • Doug Collins • Kristi Noem

The United States attorney general is the head of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The position requires a presidential nomination and subsequent confirmation by the United States Senate.

The DOJ is a United States executive department formed in 1789 to assist the president and Cabinet in matters concerning the law and to prosecute U.S. Supreme Court cases for the federal government.^[1] The department oversees the following agencies: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Prisons, and Interpol Washington.^[2]

Current attorney general[edit]

The current attorney general is Pam Bondi. President Donald Trump (R) announced he would nominate Bondi to the office on November 21, 2024, and the Senate confirmed her on February 4, 2025.^[3]

List of U.S. attorneys general[edit]

Confirmation process for attorneys general[edit]

Pam Bondi[edit]

See also: Confirmation process for Pam Bondi for U.S. attorney general

President-elect Donald Trump (R) announced former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) was his nominee for U.S. attorney general on November 21, 2024.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held confirmation hearings for Bondi on January 15 and 16, 2025.^[4] The Senate voted 54-46 to confirm Bondi as attorney general on February 4, 2025.^[3] All 53 Republicans and one Democrat, John Fetterman (D-Pa.), voted in favor of her confirmation. Forty-four Democrats and both Independents who caucus with Democrats voted against her confirmation. Click here to read more about the confirmation process.

Trump said of Bondi's nomination, "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years — She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!"^[5]

Trump's first nominee for the position, former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R), was announced on November 13, 2024. Gaetz withdrew from consideration on November 21, 2024.^[6][7] Click here to read more about Gaetz's nomination and withdrawal.

Merrick Garland[edit]

See also: Confirmation process for Merrick Garland for U.S. attorney general

President Joe Biden (D) announced Merrick Garland was his nominee for U.S. attorney general on January 7, 2021.^[8] This presidential appointment required Senate confirmation.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held Garland's confirmation hearing for February 22-23, 2021. The Senate confirmed him on March 10, 2021, by a vote of 70-30.

The Biden Transition said in a press release, "A consensus-building voice, Judge Garland has worked under Democratic and Republican administrations. He led investigations into some of the most high-profile cases and crises in modern history, including the 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski, and coordinated the government’s response to the Oklahoma City bombing. Judge Garland’s nomination underscores the [Biden's] commitment to restore integrity and the rule of law, boost morale of the dedicated career professionals at DOJ, and build a more equitable justice system that serves all Americans."^[9]

See also[edit]

• United States Department of Justice

External links[edit]

• U.S. Department of Justice

Footnotes[edit]

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