WASHINGTON, DC — In his second term, President Trump has systematically removed federal officials who refused to weaponize their agencies for his political benefit, replacing them with loyalists willing to comply.
Career prosecutors, military leaders, and national security staff have been swept out in a coordinated purge targeting anyone deemed insufficiently loyal. This purge runs deeper than high-profile firings like Bondi and Noem – it reaches career prosecutors, military officers, and security officials at every level. What united all of these removals was a single offense: refusing to place Trump’s political interests above their professional obligations.
The record documents a clear pattern:
Firing Prosecutors Who Failed to Weaponize the Justice Department
- Erik Siebert (U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia): Resigned in September 2025 after Trump publicly attacked him on Truth Social for refusing to prosecute Letitia James. Trump-appointed loyalist Lindsey Halligan replaced him and quickly secured an indictment.
- Elizabeth Yusi (Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia): Fired in October 2025 after telling colleagues she found “no probable cause” to indict Letitia James.
- Kristin Bird (Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia): Firedalongside Yusi after also telling colleagues there was “no probable cause” to indict Letitia James.
- Maya Song (Deputy U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia): Fired in October 2025 alongside other prosecutors who resisted pressure in cases involving James Comey and Letitia James.
- Michael Ben’Ary (National Security Chief, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia): Abruptly fired in October 2025 following dismissals tied to criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James. Ben’Ary left a note taped to his office door: “The leadership is more concerned with punishing the President’s perceived enemies than protecting our national security.”
- Robert McBride (First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia): Fired in January 2026 after refusing to pursue criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James.
Firing National Security Figures Who Refused to Fall in Line
- Six National Security Council Officials: Fired in a single wave in April 2025. As Trump acknowledged, “We’re always going to let go of people – people we don’t like or people that take advantage of [us] or people that may have loyalties to someone else.” The firings came one day after far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer personally presented Trump with a list of staffers she deemed insufficiently loyal to MAGA.
- Gen. Randy George (Army Chief of Staff): Fired in early April 2026 after clashing with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Secretary’s refusal to promote Black officers and women to senior Army positions.
- John Phelan (Navy Secretary): Fired in late April 2026 after months of tension with Hegseth over “some of the social and cultural battles” Hegseth championed.