JD Vance Ally Ousted From DOJ Role by Attorney General Pam Bondi
Top officials in the Justice Department have removed Gail Slater, the head of the department’s Antitrust Division, in a high-profile personnel shakeup that highlights ongoing tension within the administration’s law enforcement ranks.
Slater’s departure was confirmed earlier this week after sources told multiple news organizations that her working relationship with Pam Bondi, the U.S. Attorney General, had deteriorated significantly.
In a social media statement, Slater wrote that she was leaving her position with “great sadness and abiding hope,” but insiders say her exit was driven by disagreements over policy direction and coordination within the department.
Power Struggle Over Enforcement Priorities
Slater, who had been confirmed by the Senate with strong bipartisan support, became one of the most important figures in federal antitrust enforcement.
But over the past year, she clashed repeatedly with senior leadership over how aggressively to pursue major competition cases and how to align enforcement with broader administration priorities.
One of the flashpoints involved opposition from Slater’s office to settling a major lawsuit that would have blocked a proposed merger between Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks.
Some senior DOJ officials and national security advisers reportedly favored moving forward with the settlement, creating friction between Slater and top department leadership.
According to sources, disagreements over internal coordination and resource allocation further strained relations between Slater and Bondi’s office, ultimately undermining trust and prompting calls for new leadership.
Internal Tension and Fallout
The shakeup at the Antitrust Division underscores broader debates within the DOJ about how to balance traditional legal enforcement with the administration’s economic and political agenda.
People familiar with the matter told reporters that some career deputies in Slater’s division were also pressured out amid the disputes, further signaling a realignment of power within the agency.
The DOJ’s Antitrust Division is responsible for reviewing major corporate mergers and litigating competitive harms.
Leadership changes in this office can have sweeping consequences for how the government regulates big tech, pharmaceutical markets, and other sectors under antitrust scrutiny.
What’s Next for Antitrust Enforcement?
While details about Slater’s permanent replacement have not yet been announced, an acting chief has been named to oversee the division’s operations.
Analysts say that the personnel change may signal a shift toward closer alignment with the administration’s priorities on consumer prices and economic policy.
Observers note that antitrust enforcement has become a politically charged arena in recent years, with lawmakers and advocacy groups on both sides of the aisle pushing different visions for how competition policy should evolve.
Leadership changes in such a sensitive unit could shape major legal battles in corporate America for years to come.
A Turbulent DOJ
The departure comes amid wider scrutiny of the Department of Justice under Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, including criticism from members of Congress and public figures over transparency, prioritization of cases, and internal decision-making.
For now, Slater’s exit stands as a major development inside one of the most powerful arms of the federal government, raising questions about how antitrust enforcement will be handled at a time when competition, consumer protection, and economic policy are top political issues.
