Federal funding to sanctuary cities has been halted as Attorney General Pam Bondi directs a review of jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement. The move initiates a 60-day pause on grants and could impact multiple states and municipalities.
A newly formed DOJ unit will reexamine past prosecutions tied to former President Donald Trump, including cases led by former special counsel Jack Smith and investigations by the Manhattan District Attorney and New York Attorney General. The initiative aims to assess whether political motivations influenced any legal actions.
DOJ attorneys have been instructed that failure to advocate for the administration’s legal positions could result in dismissal. The directive signals a tightening of internal expectations on policy alignment.
The federal death penalty moratorium has been lifted, with orders for DOJ prosecutors to pursue its reinstatement in cases deemed appropriate. The shift marks a return to capital punishment after a suspension implemented by the previous administration.
A refocusing of national security efforts will see a reduced emphasis on foreign influence investigations, shifting DOJ resources toward traditional espionage and counterintelligence threats.
The orders mark a broad shift in DOJ priorities, with immigration, criminal justice, and high-profile legal cases at the forefront of the department’s new direction.