DOJ ‘Weaponization’ Unit Races to Produce Report After Leader’s Sudden Removal

WASHINGTON — More than a year after Attorney General Pam Bondi established a Weaponization Working Group to review alleged "abuses of the criminal justice process" in investigations tied to former President Donald Trump, Justice Department officials are intensifying efforts to finalize a report, according to people familiar with the team’s work.

Ed Martin, who was named to lead the unit in May, was removed from that role last week with no public explanation, the sources said. Justice Department leaders have pressed the team to deliver findings in the coming weeks, and members reportedly plan daily meetings to address the investigative priorities Bondi set out in her Feb. 5, 2025 memo.

What Officials Say

A Justice Department spokesperson said: "The Justice Department is actively looking into the areas outlined in Attorney General Bondi’s 'Day One' memo. The Weaponization Working Group is diligently working to restore integrity to the Department of Justice and is utilizing resources across the entire agency to fulfill this effort."

Background And Scope

Bondi formed the group following an executive order titled "Ending the Weaponization of the Government," directing the administration to "take appropriate action to correct past misconduct." The working group’s remit, as outlined in Bondi’s memo, covers seven priority lines of inquiry intended to assess whether federal investigations and prosecutions were politically motivated.

Bondi’s Seven Focus Areas

1. Former special counsel Jack Smith’s criminal investigations into Donald Trump.
2. Federal cooperation with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James in their Trump-related matters.
3. Alleged improper investigative tactics and unethical prosecutions in Jan. 6 cases.
4. A January 2023 FBI memo citing concerns about a potential radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology.
5. A 2021 Justice Department memo addressing threats against school boards.
6. Criminal prosecutions of nonviolent protest activity under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
7. Alleged retaliatory targeting of legitimate whistleblowers.

Pressure, Progress And Challenges

Sources say the review of the former special counsel’s work may take the longest. At the same time, some people expected to be contacted — including Republican-aligned figures and several Jan. 6 defendants who previously engaged with the team — report limited or no follow-up.

The Justice Department building in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)(Kent Nishimura)

Observers outside the administration — including career prosecutors and DOJ veterans — criticized the initiative, saying the current administration appears to be using DOJ powers for political ends. "They certainly haven’t clocked any wins," said Stacey Young, a former Justice Department official who left in January 2025 and now leads a nonprofit supporting DOJ staff. Young and others argue that several recent high-profile cases have faced legal setbacks, and that naming a unit the "Weaponization Working Group" undercuts claims of neutrality.

"This approach risks eroding the institutional norms that kept DOJ honest and unbiased," Young said.

Notable Legal Context

The article notes recent legal developments: a judge dismissed one federal documents case and another election-related federal case was dropped after Mr. Trump’s re-election. Two separate matters involving New York officials and former FBI director James Comey were also affected after a judge found a U.S. attorney’s appointment invalid; DOJ officials are reportedly considering whether to refile some charges. The working group has coordinated at times with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA, the IRS and DHS, and includes or has involved several political appointees and staffers, according to sources.

Reactions From The White House And Others

President Trump has privately complained that Bondi has not been aggressive enough in pursuing perceived political opponents, though the White House has publicly praised Bondi and other senior officials. Critics counter that the administration’s investigative moves amount to weaponizing the department rather than restoring its integrity.

What Comes Next

Sources expect the working group to issue a report soon, but timing and scope remain uncertain. The Justice Department has not publicly announced who is now leading the unit following Martin’s departure. The situation continues to draw scrutiny from career officials, lawmakers and legal observers who question both the motives and the legal footing of the reviews.

Reporting for this article is based on interviews with people familiar with the working group’s operations and on public statements by officials. The original reporting appeared on NBC News.