Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has reposted a call for Assistant U.S. Attorneys described as "patriots" at a time when the Justice Department is experiencing significant departures. The exodus accelerated after controversial federal shootings in Minneapolis and disputes over the DOJ's handling of civil-rights probes. Career prosecutors have refused some politically sensitive cases they believe lack legal merit, and Miller’s recruitment through direct messages drew criticism that it risks politicizing hiring for independent law-enforcement roles.
Stephen Miller Recruits 'Patriot' Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amid DOJ Exodus and Controversy
Stephen Miller recruits Assistant U.S. Attorneys via X. / Stephen Miller/X
Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has publicly pushed to recruit Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) described as "patriots" to fill vacancies at the Department of Justice as the agency grapples with a wave of departures and high-profile disputes.
United States Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller gives a thumbs up as U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Zurich Airport before attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, on January 21, 2026. / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Miller reposted a message from former DOJ chief of staff Chad Mizelle — who left the department after roughly ten months — encouraging prospective prosecutors to direct-message him about AUSA openings. Mizelle’s post said the "DOJ is hiring across the country" and sought applicants who "support President Trump and [the] anti-crime agenda." Miller echoed the appeal, writing on X:
"If you want to combat fraud, crime and illegal immigration, reach out. Patriots needed."
Attorney General Pam Bondi conducts a news conference at the Department of Justice on Thursday, December 4, 2025, announcing the arrest of Brian Cole Jr., who allegedly placed pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic National Committee officer on January 6, 2021. / Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag
The Justice Department has experienced sustained turnover: roughly two-thirds of the attorneys assigned to defend Trump-era policies in court resigned last July, and departures have continued. Those losses have intersected with internal conflicts over the department's handling of sensitive matters, intensifying concerns about staffing and independence.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller attends a roundtable about Antifa in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 8, 2025. / JIM WATSON / AFP via Getty Images
High-Profile Cases and Internal Pushback
The turmoil escalated after the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti — both 37 — by federal agents in Minneapolis. Some federal prosecutors warned of resignations in protest of the department's refusal to open full civil-rights investigations into the deaths. Six prosecutors, including Joseph H. Thompson, who had been second in command for the District of Minnesota, resigned after alleging pressure from the department to pursue criminal investigations related to those cases.
A response to Stephen Miller's call for Patriots to apply for AUSA jobs on X. / Screenshot/Mike Young/X
The department has also been criticized over the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, who face federal charges connected to their coverage of an anti-ICE protest inside a St. Paul church on Jan. 18. Neither reporter participated in the demonstration; both say they were there to report on events. Several career DOJ prosecutors declined to handle the case, telling supervisors they did not believe the charges would hold up in court.
Observers and legal professionals expressed alarm at Miller's explicit call for "patriotic" and pro-Trump candidates to fill prosecutor roles, and at the unusual recruitment channel of soliciting candidates via direct messages. Critics argued that hiring based on political loyalty risks politicizing sensitive, independent law-enforcement positions and could resemble patronage hiring.
Broader Concerns and Context
The current administration has previously accelerated hiring or adjusted hiring standards for agencies tied to its priorities; for example, Immigration and Customs Enforcement shortened training timelines and relaxed some recruitment requirements during a previous period of reorganization.
In Minnesota, the U.S. Attorney appointed last year, Daniel Rosen, has faced criticism for having limited prior prosecutorial experience, raising further questions about appointments and leadership as the department navigates the resignations and controversies.
As the DOJ seeks to refill ranks, the debate continues over how to balance political priorities with the department’s long-standing commitment to impartial enforcement of federal law.
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