Pam Bondi rescinds policy banning politically appointed DOJ employees from attending partisan events

Attorney General Pam Bondi has rescinded a policy that prohibited political appointees at the Justice Department from attending campaign events or fundraisers, according to a memo seen by CBS News on Wednesday. In:

Attorney General Pam Bondi has rescinded a policy that prohibited political appointees at the Justice Department from attending campaign events or fundraisers, according to a memo seen by CBS News on Wednesday.

The move undoes restrictions that were previously implemented by former Attorney General Merrick Garland starting in 2022.

Federal employees are already subject to restrictions on political activities under the Hatch Act, a law that aims to keep the government free from partisan influence.

Prior to Garland's policy, however, political appointees were allowed to attend certain partisan events in their personal capacity with approval from the department. Under Garland's 2022 amendments, political appointees were banned from participating in any partisan political event in any capacity — even on Election Day.

His policy also prohibited politically appointed department officials from attending campaign events involving close family members who are running for office. Bondi's new memo will essentially allow political appointees to once again attend such events.