ABSTRACT
A principal goal of the Biden administration was to revitalize the Justice Department, which the president believed that his predecessor politicized. The Biden administration was also embarrassed by the revelation that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for investigative purposes, had been seeking subpoenas for telephone and email communications of some reporters. The growing litigation of political matters has enhanced the Justice Department’s role, reach, and influence. During and after the 2020 election, 61 lawsuits were filed in seven states by Trump’s backers, challenging the results of the vote. Biden initiated a new national security policy against domestic terrorism in June 2021 and charged the attorney general with announcing and implementing it. President Biden did not begin to nominate judges until March 2021. By July 20, 2022, he had nominated 120 judges, 74 of whom had been confirmed by the Senate with 76 vacancies still remaining in the federal court system.
