Trump’s retribution campaign: A sweeping purge targeting rivals, agencies, and institutions

US president Donald Trump

Since returning to office, US President Donald Trump has rapidly implemented an expansive campaign of retribution against perceived enemies and critics, bypassing the traditional justice system in favour of executive orders and administrative actions, the New York Times reported.

Democrats and Biden administration officials
Trump revoked the security clearances of former President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and others. He also stripped Secret Service protection from Biden’s children, Hunter and Ashley.

Trump administration alumni
Security protection was terminated for several Trump-era officials, including John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, Brian Hook, and Mark Esper. Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley lost his security detail, had his record reviewed by an inspector general, and saw his portrait removed from the Pentagon.

Public health officials
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key figure during the COVID-19 pandemic, also lost his protection under Trump’s directive.

Legal figures and impeachment witnesses
Trump revoked clearances from dozens of individuals tied to his impeachment proceedings or legal troubles, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, and former officials like Fiona Hill, Alexander Vindman, and Andrew Weissmann.

Justice Department and FBI
Trump dismissed over a dozen DOJ prosecutors who worked on Jack Smith’s investigations and forced out senior FBI and DOJ officials. He initiated probes into prosecutors who handled January 6 cases and removed the DOJ’s pardon attorney after she refused to restore gun rights to actor Mel Gibson.

Inspectors general and watchdogs
Trump purged at least 12 inspectors general and closed multiple immigration oversight offices. The acting head of the immigration court system and three senior officials were also fired.

Intelligence officials
Fifty-one former officials who signed a letter about Hunter Biden’s laptop were stripped of security clearances.

Law firms
Major law firms like Covington & Burling, Perkins Coie, and Paul, Weiss were threatened with loss of security clearances. The administration also targeted firms with diversity programs and issued an order to sanction firms that file “frivolous” litigation against the U.S.

Universities
Federal funding was reduced or paused for institutions like Columbia, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Brown. Reasons ranged from claims of antisemitism to transgender athletes.

News organisations
The White House banned AP from Air Force One over terminology disputes. Trump’s FCC chair launched probes into PBS, NPR, CBS News, KCBS, and Comcast over various content and DEI initiatives. Meta (Facebook's parent company) paid $25 million to settle a Trump-led lawsuit.

Public and cultural institutions
Trump moved to dismantle the Presidio Trust, a longtime priority for Nancy Pelosi, and restricted future Smithsonian Institution funding over "race-centred ideology." He also purged Biden appointees from the Kennedy Center's board, installing himself as chairman.

In his second term, Trump’s retribution agenda has proven sweeping, coordinated, and deeply political—aimed at reshaping not only the federal bureaucracy but also American institutions and culture itself.