Following President-elect Donald Trump’s stunning victory on Tuesday, some officials within the Biden administration, particularly those in the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), are reportedly planning their exit strategies. According to Blaze News, these bureaucrats, particularly those in positions potentially vulnerable to Trump’s promised reforms, are actively looking for new job opportunities as they brace for a shift in leadership.
This mass exodus is partly spurred by the potential reactivation of Trump’s Schedule F executive order, which would make it easier to remove civil servants accused of political bias or underperformance, particularly those in the federal workforce who have been perceived as antagonistic to the administration’s agenda. Many of these officials fear that their days are numbered and are thus seeking a quick escape, possibly cashing in on lucrative positions in private legal firms or other sectors.
In March 2023, Trump announced his intention to reinstate Schedule F, which Biden revoked shortly after taking office. The order would give the incoming administration more leeway to fire or reassign civil servants at the higher levels of government, making it easier to remove employees traditionally protected by the system. This order was an attempt to purge the federal government of what Trump and his supporters have described as “deep state” actors—bureaucrats perceived as obstructing his agenda.
While Biden rescinded Schedule F in 2021, Trump’s re-election victory has reignited concerns that these holdover bureaucrats will soon be subject to his political retribution. Trump has made it clear that, if re-elected, he would seek accountability for what he claims is a weaponized justice system targeting his supporters and administration officials. This fear is particularly acute among those working in the DOJ and FBI, two agencies at the center of many of the controversies during Trump’s first term and the aftermath throughout the Biden administration.
According to investigative journalist Steve Baker, Blaze News sources report that lower-level officials within the DOJ and FBI, particularly at the assistant U.S. attorney and U.S. attorney levels, are already making plans to leave the government. These officials, many of whom were involved in legal actions against Trump during and after his presidency, are said to be looking for high-paying opportunities in private law firms as they anticipate a hostile political environment under a second Trump term.
Baker reports that these employees “know that their days are numbered” and are “getting the hell out of dodge” while they still can. It’s clear that many are seeking a financial cushion—often referred to as a “golden parachute”—before the changeover occurs.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung issued a statement following the election, saying: “It is now abundantly clear that Americans want an immediate end to the weaponization of our justice system, so we can, as President Trump said in his historic speech last night, unify our country and work together for the betterment of our nation.”
As Trump prepares to reassume office, it is clear that his administration will prioritize compliance in government, which was a major point of contention between his previous White House and the so-called “deep state” during his first term. His return to power is expected to bring significant disruption to Washington’s status quo, with bureaucrats in the DOJ, FBI, and other federal agencies preparing for mass firings and purges.
This article assumes that these folks can cut it in the private sector or would be of interest to others in the government sector in view of the current environment. In the end they would have to be exceptional. After all, many of them stood by silent even if they the did not participate directly in the problem..