Trump DOJ Shakeup: Key Task Force Chief Fired Amid Career Official Purge

The Trump administration has removed several Justice Department officials, including Adam Cohen, the head of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. Cohen, who was abruptly fired on Friday, revealed on LinkedIn that his dismissal came just 18 hours after he helped draft a memo announcing the task force's new role in tackling illegal immigration under "Operation Take Back America."

Cohen described his firing as a "shock," emphasizing that his work combating violent crime was "apolitical" until his removal. His departure is part of a broader shakeup targeting career officials, who typically retain their roles across administrations.

On the same day, three assistant U.S. attorneys from the Southern District of New York—Celia Cohen, Andrew Rohrbach, and Alex Kristofcak—were placed on administrative leave. Cohen and Rohrbach were involved in prosecuting New York Mayor Eric Adams' corruption case. Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky, in an internal email, criticized the decision, stating the prosecutors had acted "for the right reasons."

Kristofcak was sidelined over social media remarks condemning Washington, D.C.’s interim U.S. attorney, Ed Martin, who threatened to cut off hiring from Georgetown Law unless it dropped diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Additionally, Pardon Attorney Liz Oyer and Bobak Talebian, who managed Freedom of Information Act requests, were also dismissed.

These firings signal an aggressive effort by the Trump administration to reshape the Justice Department, sparking concerns over political interference in law enforcement.