Trump Administration Fires Senior Justice Department Officials, Including Pardon Attorney

The Trump administration has dismissed at least two senior career officials from the U.S. Justice Department, including Liz Oyer, the head of the Office of the Pardon Attorney, and Bobak Talebian, who led the Office of Information Policy.

Oyer, appointed in 2022, oversaw clemency requests for federal convictions and made pardon recommendations to the White House. She confirmed her immediate termination in a memo shared on LinkedIn, citing Trump’s executive authority under the U.S. Constitution. Talebian, responsible for handling public records requests under the Freedom of Information Act, was also removed, according to sources familiar with the matter.

These firings follow a broader pattern of the Trump administration reshaping the Justice Department by sidelining or reassigning career officials. Previously, several national security and criminal prosecutors were moved to a newly established immigration office, and the department’s top ethics official departed under similar circumstances.

Additionally, about eight senior FBI officials were forced out ahead of the Senate confirmation of Trump-nominated FBI Director Kash Patel. While the Justice Department has not provided official reasons for these dismissals, leadership has emphasized the need for career officials who align with Trump’s policy agenda.

A Justice Department spokesperson has not yet commented on the firings.

These moves highlight ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to reshape federal agencies by replacing long-standing officials with individuals aligned with its priorities. The impact of these changes on key Justice Department operations, including clemency reviews and transparency efforts, remains to be seen.