On February 5, 2025, the former Attorney General of Florida and long-standing ally of Trump, Pam Bondi, instigated a series of unparalleled changes at the Department of Justice. This occurred mere hours after being sworn in as the new Attorney General of the United States, at the White House by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
At 59, Bondi’s confirmation by the Senate passed with a 54-46 vote the previous day. By 2:00 p.m. she had started issuing directives, demonstrating the most assertive first-day agenda by an attorney general in recent years. Her primary command was to suspend federal funding to sanctuary jurisdictions that restrict coordination with immigration authorities.
The memo issued on Bondi’s first day stated, “The Department of Justice will ensure that consistent with law, ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ do not receive access to Federal funds from the Department.” It further clarified that, in accordance with other relevant laws, orders, and regulations, the Justice Department would freeze all fund distribution until a review is conducted.
This directive on sanctuary cities affects major urban areas like New York City, which is expecting $8 billion in federal funding for fiscal 2025, as well as Chicago, Illinois, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., California, and Connecticut. A 60-day funding pause has been put in place, requiring these jurisdictions to show compliance with federal immigration enforcement by March 22.
The move was applauded by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who stated: “The idea that you would maintain a sanctuary city status and then cry out to the federal government for assistance in what you’ve done is, to me, unconscionable.”
Bondi’s association with Trump dates back several years. She played a significant role in defending him during his first impeachment trial in 2020, arguing that Trump’s communications with Ukraine did not amount to impeachable offenses. She later became a legal advisor and played a crucial role in his 2016 presidential transition team.
As the Attorney General of Florida from 2011 to 2019, Bondi opposed the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act and the legalization of same-sex marriage at the Supreme Court. She prioritized targeting pill mills and synthetic drug operations while also focusing on consumer protection cases during her tenure as the state’s top prosecutor.
By 5:00 p.m. on her first day as U.S. Attorney General, Bondi had issued 14 directives, among them the establishment of a “Weaponization Working Group.” This group will examine federal investigations since 2021, including the January 6th Capitol attack and prosecutions related to Trump, with a goal to identify any potential political biases.
She also revoked numerous policies from the Biden administration, lifting the ban on federal executions and instructing prosecutors to seek the death penalty in eligible cases. Additionally, Bondi set up a joint task force to handle cases related to Hamas and antisemitism, and ordered Justice Department attorneys to “zealously defend” administration positions or risk disciplinary action.
The funding halt to sanctuary jurisdictions is reminiscent of Trump’s earlier attempt to withhold federal aid from cities he believed were too lenient on crime, such as New York City, Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon—a policy that was reversed by Biden in 2021. Leaders of current sanctuary cities warn that this directive could interfere with essential services and public safety programs.