In a PBS NewsHour report (Feb. 17, 2026), Ali Rogin examines how the Trump administration and Attorney General Pam Bondi have reshaped the U.S. Department of Justice. The report highlights a sharp decline in DOJ staffing, with about 9,000 employees (roughly 8% of the workforce) leaving since early 2025, and describes concerns from former and current attorneys about political pressure, changing prosecutorial priorities, and the loss of institutional expertise. It also discusses claims of increased tensions between DOJ leadership and federal judges, including efforts to challenge rulings viewed as obstructive. In an editor’s note, DOJ officials defended the changes as part of a more efficient department and said they continue to investigate threats against judges.