Lawyers Flee Trump's DOJ in Oregon and Across the Country

Departures from U.S. Attorney's Offices Raise Concerns About 'Brain Drain' and Public Safety

Mar. 23, 2026 at 3:33am

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After years of working for the U.S. Department of Justice, lawyers across the country, including in Oregon, have been leaving their roles in droves since President Donald Trump's second term began. The exodus has hit the U.S. Attorney's Offices in Portland, Eugene, and Medford particularly hard, with dozens of lawyers resigning or retiring. This 'brain drain' has raised concerns about the impact on public safety and the ability to prosecute complex federal cases.

Why it matters

The U.S. Attorney's Offices play a critical role in federal law enforcement, handling high-level cases like drug trafficking, financial crimes, and environmental violations. The loss of experienced prosecutors could weaken the government's ability to effectively investigate and prosecute these cases, potentially compromising public safety. Additionally, the politicization of the Department of Justice under the Trump administration has led many lawyers to feel they can no longer ethically or effectively do their jobs.

The details

According to an analysis, there were 38 'separations' from the Justice Department in Oregon in 2025, including resignations, layoffs, and retirements. This represents a significant portion of the roughly 107 employees, about half of whom are lawyers, in the state's U.S. Attorney's Offices. The departures have made it difficult to fill open positions, raising concerns about a 'brain drain' that could impact public safety. Many lawyers, like Scott Kennedy, left because they felt they could no longer defend the Trump administration's policies and actions, which they saw as 'indefensible'.

  • In January 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo requiring DOJ lawyers to 'vigorously defend presidential policies and actions against legal challenges'.
  • In 2025, Reuters reported that more than 2,500 of the DOJ's 10,000 lawyers had retired or quit since Trump took office.
  • In May 2025, Scott Kennedy left the federal DOJ and joined the Oregon Department of Justice a month later.

The players

Scott Kennedy

A 42-year-old lawyer who worked for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. for five years before leaving in May 2025 due to concerns over the Trump administration's policies. He now works for the Oregon Department of Justice.

Pam Bondi

The U.S. Attorney General under President Donald Trump's second term, who issued a memo in 2025 requiring DOJ lawyers to defend the administration's policies and actions.

Christopher Parosa

The Lane County District Attorney, who is concerned about the impact of the loss of experienced federal prosecutors on public safety.

Kent Robinson

A longtime federal prosecutor in Portland who worked in the U.S. Attorney's Office during the investigation of Andy Wiederhorn.

Scott Bradford

The current U.S. Attorney in Oregon, who declined to confirm or deny the personnel departures from his offices.

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What they’re saying

“There was fear brewing. Fear about the uncertainty, fear that they'd lose their jobs, and for me, there was fear that I'd be ordered to defend something that was indefensible.”

— Scott Kennedy, Former DOJ Lawyer

“Any time you lose experienced prosecutors, the whole system suffers. It makes the community less safe.”

— Christopher Parosa, Lane County District Attorney

“You can certainly add that to the list of Trump actions that are indefensible.”

— Kent Robinson, Former Federal Prosecutor

“You can't take that job under this administration and not fear that you could be fired. Things are very politicized. I just wish that both sides would step back and take a breath.”

— Billy Williams, Former U.S. Attorney in Oregon

“It's just kind of shocking that so many have left. It's very disturbing because so much of the institutional knowledge has been lost.”

— Whitney Boise, Veteran Defense Lawyer

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.