Joshua Stueve resigned as DOJ senior communications adviser, citing a “hostile and toxic work environment” following widespread federal departures since President Trump’s January 20 inauguration.
He submitted his resignation letter Thursday, joining a wave of exits rocking the administration.
CBS News producer Michael Kaplan publicly shared the letter on X, revealing Stueve’s September 30, 2025, departure date but Friday as his final active day.
In the letter, Stueve wrote, “It has been an honor to serve under Republican and Democratic administrations,” adding that eroding workplace “decency” compelled his exit.
He stressed his decision stemmed from leadership hostility, not the 2024 election outcome, declaring, “I cannot serve where staff are unwelcome or distrusted.”
Federal Resignations Mount Amid Controversy
Stueve’s resignation comes amid a wave of departures from federal agencies, with many officials citing similar concerns. Since the start of President Trump’s second term, a significant number of DOJ employees have left their posts, some accusing the administration of corruption and pursuing politically motivated investigations.
Adding to the turmoil is the establishment of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. DOGE has been implementing aggressive cost-cutting measures across federal agencies, including mass layoffs and requiring employees to justify their positions in writing. These actions have sparked widespread backlash from workers and federal unions, with lawsuits challenging DOGE’s policies already underway.
On Wednesday night, tensions escalated further when President Trump signed an executive order mandating that federal agency heads collaborate with “DOGE Team Leads” to justify spending on government contracts and grants within 30 days. Critics have warned that these measures could undermine the functioning of federal agencies and erode public trust in government institutions.
Congressional Criticism of Federal Employees
The controversy surrounding federal employment has also spilled into Congress. During a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing earlier this week, Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia made pointed remarks about federal workers. “[Government jobs] are not real jobs producing federal revenue, by the way. They’re consuming taxpayer dollars,” Greene said. “Federal employees do not deserve their jobs. Federal employees do not deserve their paychecks.”
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Her comments have drawn sharp criticism from federal employee unions and advocacy groups, who argue that such rhetoric undermines the morale and legitimacy of public servants who play critical roles in government operations.
DOJ Turmoil Extends Beyond Stueve
Stueve is not the only DOJ official to step down amid the current upheaval. Earlier this month, Hagan Scotten, a former federal prosecutor handling a corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, also tendered his resignation. In his letter to acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, Scotten accused the administration of attempting to use legal cases as leverage to achieve political goals.
“No system of ordered liberty can allow the Government to use the carrot of dismissing charges, or the stick of threatening to bring them again, to induce an elected official to support its policy objectives,” Scotten wrote. He warned that if no one within the administration was willing to challenge such practices, “you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward, to file your motion. But it was never going to be me.”
Broader Implications for Federal Governance
The ongoing resignations and controversies highlight deepening divisions within federal institutions under the current administration. Critics argue that the combination of political pressure, cost-cutting measures from DOGE, and public disparagement from lawmakers has created an unsustainable environment for career public servants.
While it remains uncertain how many more officials may follow Stueve’s lead in resigning, the situation underscores broader challenges facing federal governance during this turbulent period. The DOJ and other agencies now face mounting questions about their ability to retain talent and maintain operational integrity in an increasingly polarized political climate.
Newsweek reached out to the DOJ for comment via its online press contact form but has yet to receive a response.
As federal agencies grapple with these unprecedented challenges, the long-term implications for public trust in government institutions remain unclear. For now, officials like Stueve are making their voices heard as they step away from roles they once described as an honor to hold.
