Federal government loses over 10,000 attorneys since 2025

The federal government has experienced a significant loss of legal personnel since the beginning of 2025, with more than 10,000 attorneys departing their positions across multiple agencies. An analysis of federal employment data indicates that roughly one in five lawyers employed by the government at the end of 2024 had left by March 2026. This exodus has left some departments understaffed and scrambling to hire new talent.

The turnover stems from a combination of staffing reductions, voluntary resignations, and firings, which have collectively outpaced new hiring. The Department of Education has been particularly affected, losing more than half of its lawyers. The Justice Department has seen a decrease of approximately 21 percent in its attorney count. The Department of Homeland Security is the only agency reported to have gained lawyers during this period, a shift attributed to an increased need for litigation related to immigration cases.

In a statement, President Donald Trump characterized the departures as positive, stating the administration seeks people who will support its agenda. He described many of the departing lawyers as holdovers from previous administrations who...