In a move that underscores his preference for loyalty, U.S. President Donald Trump is tapping key figures from his first administration to lead major divisions within the Justice Department. John Eisenberg is set to head the national security division, while Brett Shumate will take the reins of the civil division, according to an announcement from the department.
Shumate, currently acting head of the civil division, has been at the center of high-profile legal battles, including defending federal workforce changes and restructuring efforts under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Despite a past defeat in court over Trump’s attempt to restrict birthright citizenship, he remains a trusted legal operative with deep ties to the former president’s legal circles.
Eisenberg, another Trump-era veteran, previously served as a legal adviser to the National Security Council and held multiple senior Justice Department roles. A former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, his appointment signals a continuation of Trump’s reliance on officials with strong conservative legal backgrounds.
Additionally, Patrick Davis is slated to lead the Office of Legislative Affairs, marking his third stint in the department.
These nominations, which require Senate confirmation, come just after Trump ordered the dismissal of all remaining U.S. attorneys from the previous administration, alleging—without providing evidence—that the Justice Department had been politically compromised.
