Attorney General Todd Blanche Urges Unity, Integrity and Respect for Judiciary in First Formal DOJ Address

Attorney General Todd Blanche used his inaugural address to the Justice Department workforce on Thursday to pledge that he will work to make the department “more faithful to its highest ideals than when I found it.” Speaking in the great hall of the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, Blanche cast the speech as an effort to steady a department shaken by recent personnel changes, courtroom backlash and allegations of political interference.

“I promise you that I will lead this department with integrity,” Blanche said. “I promise you that I will focus on our core mission, which is to uphold the rule of law fairly and impartially, to keep this great country safe, and to protect the rights of every citizen in this country.”

Blanche delivered the remarks after being confirmed as attorney general on Saturday, having served in an acting capacity since April. It was his first formal address to Justice Department employees since President Donald Trump spoke to the department in March 2025, calling himself the “chief law enforcement officer in our country” and pledging to remove what he called “rogue actors and corrupt forces” from government.

In his address, Blanche echoed themes familiar from past attorneys general, thanking agents and prosecutors for their day‑to‑day work and reaffirming the department’s core principle “to uphold the law without fear or favor.” He mentioned President Trump by name only once during the speech.

Respect For The Courts And A Call For Constructive Debate

To some attendees, Blanche’s remarks signaled an attempt to move beyond more than a year of internal upheaval. He vowed to “always respect the role of the judiciary” and said he would not “engage in or stand for any sort of performative attacks that undermine the institutions that we are sworn to uphold,” a direct response to criticism from department watchdogs and outside observers.

Blanche emphasized unity and the value of constructive disagreement across political and personal lines.

“I think disagreement is the only way that we make the best decisions as a department. I think the fair administration of justice and us doing our jobs depend on that,”

He acknowledged he will not always get every decision right but promised to work hard, listen to staff, and consider their ideas and suggested adjustments.

Reactions And Ongoing Concerns

Not everyone was reassured. Stacey Young, executive director of Justice Connection — a support group for current and former Justice Department employees — praised the tone of Blanche’s remarks but questioned whether the promises would translate into action.

“DOJ succeeds when people of diverse backgrounds, politics, and life experiences put the department’s mission first,” Young said. She noted that hundreds of career employees have been fired and thousands have left, citing concerns about personnel decisions and leadership actions she says conflict with the principles Blanche outlined: basing prosecutions on facts and law, holding those who attack law enforcement accountable, and respecting the courts.

The attorney general’s address sought to reassure a workforce still processing recent changes, but many attendees and outside observers will be watching whether the speech marks a turning point in policy and culture at the Justice Department.

This story has been updated with additional details.