Trump Administration Initiates Sweeping Personnel, Policy Shifts Across DOJ, Health Agencies, and Military

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The new administration of President Donald Trump moved rapidly on Monday, January 28, 2025, implementing significant personnel and policy changes across multiple federal departments, including the Department of Justice, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. military.

Justice Department Reshaped

Among the most immediate actions, the Justice Department on Monday dismissed more than a dozen officials who had previously worked with special counsel Jack Smith. These officials were involved in criminal investigations into Donald Trump that have since been dismissed. Acting Attorney General James McHenry stated that these personnel could no longer be trusted to “faithfully implement” the administration’s agenda, according to official statements.

Simultaneously, Ed Martin, the interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., a role to which he was recently appointed by President Trump, initiated an investigation into federal prosecutors. These prosecutors had previously filed obstruction charges against approximately 250 individuals implicated in the January 6th Capitol riot. These specific charges were previously dismissed following a ruling by the Supreme Court last year. Mr. Martin’s appointment drew attention due to his noted prior involvement in the “Stop the Steal” effort.

Further indicating a shift in priorities regarding the January 6th events, the Justice Department also removed a publicly accessible database from its website that had documented crimes and convictions stemming from the insurrection.

Health Agency Directive and Spending Freeze

Elsewhere in the federal government, employees at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received an immediate directive on Monday to cease collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). This decision reportedly surprised many CDC staff members who were actively engaged in crucial international public health initiatives. These collaborative efforts included work concerning potential outbreaks of infectious diseases such as the Marburg virus, mpox, and avian influenza (bird flu).

These health-related shifts unfolded alongside a broader, sweeping freeze on federal spending implemented by the administration. While a judge subsequently ordered a pause on this spending freeze, the action raised concerns among global experts about the potential impact of significant U.S. spending cuts on worldwide health programs, many of which rely substantially on U.S. funding and collaboration.

Military Reorganization Orders

President Trump also signed four executive orders on Monday aimed at fundamentally reorganizing the U.S. military. These orders addressed personnel policies, diversity initiatives, and defense capabilities.

One significant order directed the reinstatement of approximately 8,000 military personnel who had been discharged from service for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. Another executive order banned Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within the military, signaling a major policy shift regarding internal military culture and training.

Additionally, President Trump issued an order to develop a new missile defense system. The directive specified that this system should be modeled after Israel’s highly successful “Iron Dome” defense architecture, indicating a focus on replicating proven defense technologies.

A Day of Rapid Change

The confluence of these actions across the Justice Department, federal health agencies, military, and fiscal policy marked a day of rapid and significant change directed by the new administration. The personnel decisions at the DOJ, the altered directives for public health collaboration, the military policy overhauls, and the attempted spending freeze collectively underscore a comprehensive effort to realign federal operations and priorities with the agenda articulated by President Trump and his appointees.