Trump’s DOJ makeover hasn’t changed where the political cash is flowing — and the gap is growing
Campaign finance records analysed by Fox News Digital show that more than three quarters of political contributions from people identifying themselves as Justice Department employees went to Democratic-aligned committees between January 2025 and August 2026. The findings suggest that the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the department and recruit lawyers who support its agenda have not shifted the overall direction of its employees’ political donations.
The analysis covered about $300,000 in contributions reported by donors listing the Justice Department, DOJ or similar as their employer, with records filtered to include unique individuals. The share going to Democratic committees rose from about 70% in 2025 to just under 90% in 2026. The administration has accused the department of political bias under Joe Biden, while critics say investigations of Donald Trump and other conservatives arose from legitimate legal concerns; more than 10,000 attorneys have left federal service since Trump began his second term.
In short
- Over 75% of DOJ employee donations went to Democratic-aligned committees.
- The share rose from about 70% in 2025 to nearly 90% in 2026.
- The analysis covered roughly $300,000 in contributions.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The donation figures may reinforce concerns that political views within the department remain unevenly distributed, despite efforts to change its leadership and recruitment. An administration that believes ideological imbalance can affect public trust may argue that reshaping the workforce is justified, provided hiring and management decisions remain lawful and based on professional standards.
The case against
Employee donations are a limited measure of political views and do not show how staff perform their duties or whether cases are handled unfairly. Critics may argue that trying to alter the department’s political composition risks pressuring career lawyers and weakening its independence, while departures could reflect concerns about politicisation rather than a failure to shift the workforce.