Joshua Stueve, a top spokesperson for the Department of Justice (DOJ), has resigned, citing a “toxic work environment” in his letter to leadership.
“Simply put, I cannot continue to serve in such a hostile and toxic work environment, one where leadership at the highest levels makes clear we are not welcomed or valued, much less trusted to do our jobs,” wrote Stueve, who is not a political appointee and has served in administrations run by both parties.
Stueve’s resignation is the latest in federal resignations and firings since the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began examining various agencies to cut spending.
DOGE, the brainchild of Elon Musk, has won unprecedented access to internal systems of the federal government since Jan. 20. It has worked to dismantle parts of the government while pushing federal workers to resign.
Musk himself has repeatedly belittled federal workers, most recently in a Cabinet meeting earlier this week.
In his letter, Stueve said he had served administrations of both parties. Stueve has been a senior communications advisor for the DOJ since Jan. 2021.
“To be clear, the outcome of the most recent general election did not influence my decision. In fact, it has been an honor to serve this department under multiple administrations led by both Republicans and Democrats, each of whom have previously treated career staff with respect and dignity,” Stueve said in the letter, obtained by The Hill.
He said it was “heartbreaking” to see that “basic decency” was gone at the Department of Justice. Attorney General Pam Bondi was sworn in to lead the DOJ earlier this month.
Stueve wished his former colleagues the best and said they were “true patriots” of the country.
His resignation comes as others at the DOJ have resigned or been fired within the first few weeks of the Trump administration. Some of the DOJ and FBI’s top career officials have been targeted, including those who worked on Trump’s criminal prosecutions.
