The Justice Department political activities policy has been relaxed for the attorney general and other senior presidential appointees, permitting limited participation in campaigns when acting in a personal capacity, according to a new internal memo.
Assistant Attorney General Jolene Ann Laurie issued the guidance this week, easing ethics restrictions for presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed officials. The memo says they may speak at rallies, canvass for votes, and serve as delegates or officers of a national political party, provided those activities are not conducted in their official roles.
The updated rules apply to the attorney general, the deputy attorney general, assistant attorneys general, the FBI director, U.S. attorneys, and other similarly situated officials. The document clarifies that these appointees are exempt from stricter standards that remain in place for other Justice Department employees, including administrative law judges and personnel in the Criminal Division.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi had previously loosened department rules to allow political appointees to attend rallies and fundraisers. The new memo goes further by explicitly authorizing additional forms of participation, again only in a personal capacity.
Justice Department political activities and recent scrutiny
Attorney General Todd Blanche drew criticism after addressing the Republican midterm convention in September and appearing at a rally for a North Carolina Republican Senate candidate. Blanche defended his participation, saying, “I am not in any way violating any rule or law,” and emphasized that he attended in a personal capacity.
The latest shift follows more prohibitive guidance enacted during the Biden administration. A 2024 directive stated that non-career appointees could not attend partisan political events even personally, continuing a policy from two years earlier, and urged appointees to avoid public appearances in any state shortly before that state’s primary or general election whenever practicable.
The department’s new memo refines those limits for Senate-confirmed leadership while keeping tighter restrictions for other categories of employees. Officials said the changes are intended to clarify permissible personal political engagement without involving official resources or the appearance of departmental endorsement.
News of the updated guidelines was first reported by PBS News.
The Justice Department has faced intense political scrutiny in recent years, including over high-profile cases and charging decisions that have drawn criticism from both parties. Related debates over the separation of politics and governance have also surfaced in controversies such as Veterans and Democrats rally against Trump proposed arch, underscoring how official actions can quickly become flashpoints in election-year politics.