On February 5, 2025, Pam Bondi, a staunch Trump supporter and ex-attorney general of Florida, implemented dramatic changes in the Department of Justice (DOJ). This move came only hours after she was sworn in at the White House by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
After her Senate confirmation was secured with a 54-46 vote on February 4, Bondi, aged 59, started issuing directives by 2:00 p.m. the next day. This marked an exceptionally proactive start for any attorney general in recent memory. Her first major directive ordered the halt of federal funding to sanctuary jurisdictions that restrict cooperation with immigration enforcement.
In her inauguration day memo, Bondi stated, “The Department of Justice will ensure that consistent with law, ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ do not receive access to Federal funds from the Department.” All funding will be paused pending a review, in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, and terms.
This directive to sanctuary cities affects major urban areas like New York City, which expects around $8 billion in federal funding for the fiscal year of 2025, as well as cities like Chicago, Illinois, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and states like California and Connecticut. To lift the 60-day funding freeze, these jurisdictions must show compliance with federal immigration enforcement by March 22.
The decision received backing from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who said, “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 has been a Trump ally for several years, notably defending him during his first impeachment trial in 2020, arguing that Trump’s communications with Ukraine didn’t amount to impeachable offenses. She also served as a legal advisor and played a crucial role in his 2016 presidential transition team.
During her tenure as Florida’s attorney general (2011-2019), Bondi challenged the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act in the Supreme Court and opposed the legalization of same-sex marriage. She prioritized tackling pill mills and synthetic drug operations while also focusing on consumer protection cases.
By the end of her first day in office, Bondi issued a total of 14 directives, including the establishment of a “Weaponization Working Group.” This group is tasked with reviewing federal investigations since 2021, including cases related to the January 6th Capitol attack and prosecutions of Trump, with the aim of identifying any potential political influences.
She overturned several policies from the Biden administration, reinstating federal executions and directing prosecutors to seek the death penalty in eligible cases. Bondi also formed a joint task force on Hamas-related cases and antisemitism, while instructing DOJ attorneys to “zealously defend” administration positions or face possible disciplinary measures.
The decision to pause funding to sanctuary jurisdictions is reminiscent of Trump’s earlier attempt to withhold federal aid from cities he viewed as overly lenient on crime, including New York City, Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon—a policy that Biden reversed in 2021. Leaders of current sanctuary cities caution that this directive could disrupt crucial services and public safety programs.
