The DOJ’s big screwups, briefly explained

DOJ's Blunders Cast Doubt on Trump's Agenda

A recent week has been marred by glaring mistakes made by the Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Donald Trump. These errors have significant implications for his legislative agenda, particularly in Texas where a Trump-appointed judge struck down the state's new congressional map as a racial gerrymander.

The case involved a Trump redistricting campaign that aimed to consolidate Republican seats and tip the 2026 House map in favor of Democrats by five seats. However, this attempt was set back when the court ruled against the new maps due to an egregious misreading of case law by the DOJ.

This misinterpretation may have influenced the Supreme Court's decision on the case, as it is possible that SCOTUS will side with the lower court. This could deal a significant blow to Trump's efforts in Texas and elsewhere.

Furthermore, there are concerns about the politicization of the Justice Department, particularly after an interim US Attorney Lindsey Halligan made procedural errors while presenting the indictment for former FBI Director James Comey to a grand jury. The DOJ's failure in this case has implications beyond the specific issue at hand, as it highlights Trump's retaliation against perceived enemies.

The impact of these blunders extends beyond mere embarrassment or political setbacks. They also underscore the hollowing out of the Justice Department's career staff due to layoffs, firings, resignations, and loyalist appointments. As a result, high-profile failures like these become more likely.

In short, the mistakes made by the DOJ demonstrate that the department is no longer operating with the same level of expertise or professionalism as it should be. This raises serious questions about Trump's ability to effectively govern.

I just can't believe what's going on with our justice system! These blunders by the DOJ are seriously undermining trust in our institutions. As a parent, it's disheartening to see such reckless decisions being made, especially when they have far-reaching implications like this one. How do we expect our kids to learn about fairness and justice if we're not setting a good example ourselves? And what's the message here for our children: that it's okay to disregard rules and case law just because it doesn't fit your agenda? I'm worried that this kind of behavior will have long-term consequences, not just for our democracy, but for our kids' moral development too.

this all kinda weird... one minute trump's got a new map and the next its being struck down like, what even happened? you'd think he'd have some decent lawyers on his team but i guess not . and with this DOJ messing up left and right it's hard to take them seriously. maybe they just need a shakeup or something?

[Grumpy Cat](https://i.giphy.com/GIPhRd6tL1k4e/kDH/2400x)
The plot thickens... or should I say, the blunders thicken?

[Image of a cartoonish, red-faced "Trump" character with a confused expression](https://i.giphy.com/GIP7cFJwK3BqL/kDH/2400x)
When you try to gerrymander your way to power...
[ GIF of a " map spinning out of control" ](https://giphy.com/gifs/US-News-Politics/4V8nRlZ9d6YkC)

[Distracted Boyfriend](https://i.giphy.com/GIP2a2FJjKqOe/kDH/2400x)
When you try to distract the law with a bunch of "blunders"...
[ GIF of a cartoonish, frustrated lawyer throwing hands up in the air ](https://giphy.com/gifs/US-News-Politics/pFwRQd8K6P1vA)

Ugh, can't believe what I'm seeing here ... The DOJ's blunders are like a never-ending nightmare for this country! Not only is Trump's agenda getting derailed, but it's also highlighting how politicized the Justice Department has become. I mean, Lindsey Halligan making procedural errors? That's just laughable! And what's going on with all these loyalist appointments? It's like they're more interested in sycophancy than actual justice.

And don't even get me started on the Supreme Court potentially siding with the lower court due to the DOJ's misreading of case law ... That would be a major blow to Trump's plans and it just goes to show that his "team" isn't exactly running things like they should. I'm all for accountability, but this level of incompetence is just staggering .

I mean, can't we get some actual experts in there instead of just sycophants who are more interested in serving Trump's ego? It's time to shake things up and restore some professionalism to the Justice Department!

I'm not surprised by this recent spate of blunders from the Department of Justice under Trump... It just goes to show that some people in positions of power can't get a simple case right, no matter how much they try to manipulate the system . And yeah, it's pretty concerning when you see career lawyers being pushed out for loyalist appointments - that's basically dismantling the whole point of having an independent Justice Department .

The politicization of the DOJ is also super concerning... It's like, if you're not going to get the facts straight, then how can you even begin to do your job properly? And it's not just about Trump - this kind of thing has implications for the integrity of the entire justice system.

It's also worth noting that these blunders are basically a result of Trump's attempts to consolidate power and control over the DOJ... By filling it with sycophants who will do his bidding, he's basically gutted the department's ability to function properly . It's sad to see what happens when you prioritize politics over public service.

Ugh, man... The DOJ under Trump has been a joke lately! I mean, you'd think they'd have some sort of basic understanding of the law by now, but nope, they're still messing it up left and right. Like, come on, Lindsey Halligan? Making procedural errors while presenting an indictment? That's just amateur hour .

And don't even get me started on the redistricting case in Texas. I mean, Trump tried to game the system like a pro, but his DOJ couldn't even get the basics right . It's like they're more interested in serving their own agenda than doing actual justice.

I'm not saying these mistakes don't have serious implications for Trump's agenda... trust me, they do . But at the same time, it's hard to take anything he says seriously when his team can't even get that simple right . Maybe I'm just nostalgic for the good old days of the Justice Department as a whole... those guys knew how to do things right

The DOJ's blunders are more than just a problem for Trump - they're a symptom of a bigger issue. I mean, think about it, when you have people who don't know the first thing about case law making decisions that can affect entire states... It's not just the courts, it's the whole process. And let's be real, this is what happens when politics and ego take over over expertise and professionalism. The fact that we're having to watch the Justice Department make mistake after mistake is a real concern for me. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Trump's agenda is being held hostage by his own DOJ.

I mean what's going on with the DOJ? They're just making one mistake after another under Trump's watch. It's like they're not even trying anymore. I remember when Trump was talking about reforming the Justice Department, how he wanted to "drain the swamp" and make it more efficient. But instead, they're doing the opposite – creating chaos and confusion.

And can we talk about this whole thing with the gerrymander case? It's just another example of Trump's attempts to manipulate the system for his own gain. But the DOJ messed it up so badly that even Trump's own party is turning on him. This is what happens when you put ideologues in charge instead of experts.

I'm not surprised, though. I've been saying this for a while now – the Justice Department needs to be cleaned out and rebuilt from the ground up. We can't just have loyalists and sycophants running around making poor decisions. It's like they're more interested in advancing Trump's agenda than doing what's right.

man this trump admin is having a major meltdown lol at least they're consistent, right? those gerrymandered maps were already super sketchy and now the DOJ messed up the case big time... it's like they're trying to help out the other party but seriously, this kind of stuff shouldn't be happening in a country where the rule of law is supposed to matter. and with all the politicking going on, who knows what else is gonna get screwed up?

Ugh , this is exactly what happens when you have a bunch of sycophants running around in the DOJ thinking they're above the law . I mean, come on, Lindsey Halligan making procedural errors? That's just basic common sense stuff . And now the whole thing blows up in Trump's face because of some rookie mistakes.

You know what really gets my goat though? It's all these loyalist appointments and layoffs that are basically gutting the department . I mean, who needs competent people doing the job when you've got yes-men and women who'll do whatever Trump tells them to ? This is a recipe for disaster and it's only gonna get worse from here .

I'm telling you, if this keeps up, we're in trouble big time . The DOJ should be above politics, not getting dragged down by partisan shenanigans . We need to hold these people accountable and start cleaning house ASAP .

OMG, have you guys ever noticed how weird it is when we eat ice cream in the middle of winter ? Like, who makes that decision? "Hey, let's get some ice cream... in January!" Anyway, speaking of questionable decisions, I was thinking about this the other day and wondered if Trump would have gone for a spring or summer vacation if he didn't have the whole presidency thing to worry about. Would've been interesting to see him trying to pack his shorts and sunscreen for the White House

It seems like the Trump administration's attempts to manipulate the justice system are backfiring big time . First, they tried to rig the congressional maps in Texas and now this latest blunder with the DOJ is casting doubt on their whole agenda . I'm worried that if these mistakes keep happening, it'll damage Trump's credibility even more . The politicization of the Justice Department is a huge red flag and it's concerning to see loyalist appointments instead of career experts . It's like they're not taking this job seriously anymore . What do you guys think? Can Trump turn things around, or are these mistakes too big to recover from?

I'm not surprised to see the DOJ making blunders, it's like they're trying to prove a point - that they're not exactly the most competent bunch . I mean, come on, Lindsey Halligan's mistakes are just the tip of the iceberg, what about all the other loyalist appointments that have been made? It's clear Trump is more interested in having yes-men around him than actual experts who can get the job done .

And don't even get me started on this "gerrymander" business... I'm no expert, but it seems like a pretty basic concept to me . Can't they just follow the law and do their jobs properly? It's not rocket science!

I guess what's really worrying is that these blunders could have serious implications for Trump's agenda - and not in a good way . The fact that there are concerns about politicization of the DOJ is just another nail in the coffin. Maybe it's time to take a closer look at who's actually running the show around here

I'm not sure what's going on over at the DOJ . I mean, how do you mess up a racial gerrymander case that badly? It's like they're trying to help the other side instead of doing their job. And now this one mistake could potentially blow back all sorts of things in Texas and beyond...it's just not good for Trump's agenda at all .

And I'm really worried about these politicized appointments and layoffs . If you're gonna do your job, shouldn't it be based on who's best for the country, not who's loyal to the President? It's got me thinking about how we can even trust anyone in government anymore...it's just so frustrating .

I don't think this is just a normal case of "oh, they had an off day" or "they're just having a bad week". No way. This is more than that. This is systemic, and it's gotta be addressed ASAP . We need someone to come in there and shake things up, get some real experts back in place, because right now it's just not working .

man this is crazy stuff the doj messing up trump's redistricting plan in texas and now they're getting roasted for it it's like you can see the politicization going on there and it's just not good for america at all the fact that we're seeing a bunch of career lawyers get sacked and replaced with trump sycophants is just sad the impact of this stuff goes way beyond just texas too

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what's going on with the DOJ... like, how do you mess up a case that badly? And now there's this whole thing about the Supreme Court potentially stepping in and it's just... Trump's got some 'splainin' to do. But you know what's even more concerning? The fact that all these mistakes are happening because of the lack of competent people at the DOJ. It's like, Trump's trying to pack it with sycophants instead of actual experts. And that's not just gonna lead to a lot of missteps... it's also gonna make it harder for him to get things done in the long run. I mean, if he can't even trust his own people, how's he supposed to make good decisions?

It's like, you know when you're playing your fave game and someone makes a mistake that changes the whole gameplay? That's what's happening here . The DOJ is supposed to be all about upholding the law, but these errors are making it look more like they're playing by their own rules. I mean, you gotta wonder if Trump is actually trying to help his own agenda or just making a mess everywhere . And what's with all these 'loyalist appointments'? It's like they're hand-picking people who'll do whatever they say, rather than getting the best talent for the job . This whole thing is giving me old-school Republican party vibes from back in Nixon's day... but that's a whole other can of worms

I'm low-key surprised the GOP didn't catch this trainwreck comin' outta the DOJ office... like, these blunders are just icing on the cake for the Dem campaign . Can you imagine if Biden had an admin that was as incompetent? The whole thing is a mess! Trump's got some serious credibility issues now