Donald Trump’s Political Retribution and Its Implications

Image via Miru Osuga/CREW

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Since his return to the White House, Current United States President Donald Trump has implemented mass removals against government officials and institutions he views as potential threats. From dismissing inspectors general to revoking security clearances, his actions raise concerns about the politicization of government and the erosion of institutional independence. His moves signal a profound shift in how presidential power is wielded, particularly in the executive branch, prompting questions about accountability, executive oversight, and the future of democratic norms in the U.S.

One of the first orders that Trump implemented after taking office was revoking the security clearances of 51 former intelligence and high-ranking government officials who signed a letter regarding the Hunter Biden laptop controversy. The administration justified this action by accusing the signers of taking part in misleading political activities that they claim influenced the 2020 election. This has been widely criticized as politically-motivated retaliation and raised concerns about intelligence professionals who might hesitate to voice their assessments in the future. Taking away security clearances for former officials is an odd and unprecedented step; it’s usually only done for cases involving security breaches or misconduct, not public expressions of professional opinion. 

In another controversial move, President Donald Trump dismissed 17 inspector generals (IGs) from various federal agencies on January 24, 2025. These officials serve as “independent watchdogs,” identifying and preventing mismanagement, fraud, and abuse within government operations. The dismissal of these IGs seems even stranger due to the Trump Administration not specifying why they were let go. Their dismissals, which were executed without the legally required 30-day notice to Congress, sparked fears that oversight mechanisms in the government are being systematically dismantled.

Arguably the most contentious fragment of Trump’s revenge against supposed political enemies is his dealings with the Department of Justice (DOJ) during the start of his second term. Under Trump’s administration, the DOJ had some large overhauls, marked by actions that some people say reflect a politicization of federal law enforcement. Attorney General Pam Bondi has defended these measures as necessary reforms to focus on prosecuting serious criminals and to address political prejudice within the department. “So far, top officials in the DOJ have demanded the names of thousands of FBI agents who investigated the Capitol riot, sued a state attorney general who had won a widely publicized fraud verdict against Donald Trump before the 2024 election, and ordered the dismissal of the case against New York Mayor Eric Adams.” The latter issue has become a large issue in the department following the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Danielle Sassoon’s resignation from the DOJ after Emil Bove, Attorney General of the U.S. asked her to drop the case on Adams. Bove asserted that it would allow Adams to focus on immigration enforcement in New York City in cooperation with the current administration. After Sassoon resigned, multiple high-ranking officials who oversaw the Justice Department’s public integrity section, which prosecutes corruption cases, joined her in resigning. Many have remarked that these resignations in the DOJ due to seeming executive overreach are very reminiscent of the Saturday Night Massacre, where many top officials in the DOJ resigned after facing pressure to aid Former President Nixon in evading Watergate.

Trump’s second term has just begun, and he’s already used his presidential powers in ways that are widely different from democratic norms. His removal of independent watchdogs, the stripping of security clearances from former intelligence officials, and the reshaping of the DOJ are part of a larger effort to consolidate control over federal institutions. Congress, the judiciary, and the broader public will need to take steps to keep the principles of accountability and oversight alive in our democracy—or Trump’s approach to governance will redefine the limits of presidential power and our government for years to come.

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This article was edited by Herman Singh and Cameron Ma.