The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and the Office of Inspector General have seen their ranks thinned significantly during the current administration. OPR, tasked with policing misconduct by department lawyers, has shrunk to just 16 employees from 29, with the director’s chair currently sitting empty. Government records indicate that during the 2025 fiscal year, OPR opened only seven new investigations—the lowest volume in two decades—even as it fielded a record-breaking 1,666 complaints.
Former staffers describe a culture of paralysis within these offices, suggesting that the staff exodus and the sluggish pace of oversight signal that ethical accountability is no longer a priority. While department spokespeople maintain that both offices remain committed to independent oversight, the reality on the ground appears different. High-profile probes, including an investigation into Jack Smith’s team, have stalled, with sources alleging that political appointees intervened to suspend the work. Meanwhile, the Inspector General’s office, which lost 99 employees since the Biden administration, has largely avoided politically sensitive inquiries.
This decline in oversight coincides with a sharp rise in judicial scrutiny. Judges have documented disturbing patterns of misstatements and improper evidence handling in cases involving high-profile Trump critics. In one recent instance, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams accused acting Attorney General Todd Blanche of orchestrating a collusive settlement to grant Trump and his family business tax immunity. Rather than addressing these judicial findings, the administration has moved to restrict outside scrutiny, attempting to block state-level investigations into government attorneys. Legal experts warn that the erosion of internal discipline risks permanently damaging the integrity of the Justice Department, leaving little recourse for those who believe the law is being weaponized for political gain.
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