Bondi Fires DOJ Worker For Abusing National Guard Members

Bondi Fires DOJ Worker for Abusing National Guard Members — What Happened and Why It Matters

In late August 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi made headlines not for a legal ruling or court victory, but for a personnel decision that quickly sparked national discussion: she fired a Justice Department employee for abusive conduct toward members of the National Guard deployed in Washington, D.C. This move followed a period of highly visible military and law enforcement presence in the nation’s capital and raised questions ranging from workplace standards to political polarization.

Here’s the full story, the context, and what it tells us about federal employment, public conduct, and institutional accountability.

What Actually Happened

On August 29, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi terminated a Department of Justice (DOJ) employee after multiple reported incidents of inappropriate conduct toward members of the National Guard stationed in Washington, D.C. according to official reporting. The employee, identified as Elizabeth Baxter, worked as a paralegal specialist in the DOJ’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division.

According to the termination letter and related reporting:

Baxter reportedly flipped off a National Guard member near a subway stop and used profanity directed at the troops.

She then reportedly boasted about the incident to a DOJ security guard when arriving at work.

Additional DOJ surveillance footage allegedly showed Baxter making the same obscene gesture and verbal expletives toward Guard members later that day.

Bondi cited “inappropriate conduct towards National Guard service members” as the reason for immediate termination.

This firing came amid a heightened National Guard and federal law enforcement presence in D.C.—part of security measures tied to crime concerns and federal responses to public safety issues in the city. That context deepened the political and cultural resonance of the decision.

Why the National Guard Was in Washington, D.C.

The situation ties into larger national events: in 2025, President Donald Trump increased federal law enforcement deployment in the capital, including activating hundreds of National Guard troops. This was announced as part of a crime response strategy and, later, a temporary federal takeover of the city’s police department.

Critics of the federal presence saw it as excessive or polarizing, and some local residents expressed frustration at the heightened security force deployment. Proponents framed it as necessary to maintain public safety amid rising concerns about violent crime. This backdrop made the point of tension over respect for service members especially salient in public debate.

Bondi’s Message and DOJ Standards

Pam Bondi made her position clear in the aftermath of the firing:

“If you don’t support law enforcement, @AGPamBondi’s DOJ might not be a good fit.” — Bondi spokesperson quote on social media regarding conduct expectations.

Her message underlined institutional standards for federal employees, emphasizing that conduct toward federal service members—and by extension law enforcement personnel—is expected to be professional, even independent of personal views about policy or political deployment decisions.

Many federal workplaces have codes of conduct that address respectful behavior and public representation, particularly for employees of agencies tied to law enforcement or national security. While flipping someone off isn’t illegal per se, repeated hostile conduct while identifying oneself as a government employee can raise significant administrative concerns, especially when recorded and corroborated by multiple witnesses and video evidence.

Was This the Only Firing?

The incident involving Baxter wasn’t the only example of DOJ staff terminations tied to public conduct during that period.

Earlier in August 2025, another Justice Department employee—Sean Charles Dunn—was reportedly fired after being accused of throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent during a confrontation in D.C. and yelling at law enforcement. That incident also drew legal consequences for Dunn, who was charged in connection with the assault, and was highlighted by Bondi as part of broader efforts to enforce respect for federal law enforcement personnel.

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