Pam Bondi becomes the next attorney general at a pivotal moment for the Justice Department, as the second Trump administration starts with sweeping government actions and personnel moves that already have sparked numerous legal challenges and controversies.
The Senate voted 54-46 to confirm Bondi in a nearly party-line vote Tuesday, with praise from Republicans for her background as a prosecutor and deep skepticism from Democrats that she will uphold the independence of the Justice Department. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote for her confirmation.
Bondi will oversee a sprawling department responsible for federal criminal prosecution and a wide array of law enforcement. In the role, she could advocate for certain funding priorities, implement internal changes, and shift policy on topics like immigration, voting rights and antitrust enforcement.
