In a move that shook Washingtonʼs legal circles president-elect Donald Trump named Matt Gaetz – a Florida house member with no prosecutorial background to head the Justice Department. The decision left many staffers un-easy about their departments future
The selection of Gaetz (who faced a fed investigation about 2 years ago) over more-qualified candidates shows Trumps focus on getting trusted allies into key positions; many law-experts point out that traditional requirements for this role include extensive legal-practice experience
- Previous contenders included seasoned prosecutors
- Department veterans with decades of experience
- Well-known constitutional lawyers
The choice reflects a clear break from standard practice – Trump aims to put someone who shares his views about the department that brought criminal charges against him in recent months. Current DOJ workers express worry about job security and department direction under a leader who has often criticized their work
The move fits into Trumps wider plan to re-shape federal agencies: his team sees Gaetz as someone ready to make big changes in how the department works