President Donald Trump announced Friday that longtime ally Ed Martin is leaving the administration to focus on election-related legal battles outside the federal government ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race.
Trump praised Martin’s work in several Justice Department positions while confirming his departure in a post on Truth Social.
“Ed Martin has been with me from the very beginning, and done an incredible job as an Attorney, Director of the Weaponization Working Group, and the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia,” Trump wrote.
The president said Martin will now shift his attention to legal fights surrounding future elections.
“Ed is now leaving to go outside to fight Legal Battles for the upcoming Midterm Election, and the Presidential Election of 2028,” Trump said.
“I know he will do an outstanding job, ensure Free, Fair, and Honest Elections, and strongly advance our Constitutional Rights. Good luck Ed!”
Martin served as acting US attorney for Washington, DC, from January through May 2025 before later taking over as US pardon attorney.
Trump had sought to install Martin permanently as the top federal prosecutor in the nation’s capital, but his confirmation bid ran into opposition from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC).
That opposition effectively ended Martin’s path to Senate confirmation.
Trump later selected Jeanine Pirro for the position.
Martin has remained a prominent figure in the administration through his Justice Department work, including his role with the Weaponization Working Group.
His departure will now move him outside the federal government, where Trump said he will focus on election-related legal efforts ahead of two major national election cycles.
The announcement comes just one day after another senior Trump administration official revealed plans to leave.
White House legislative affairs director James Braid is expected to depart the administration in September.
Braid, 35, served as Trump’s chief liaison to Capitol Hill and played a major role in advancing the president’s legislative agenda through narrowly divided Republican majorities in Congress.
He helped shepherd Trump’s major tax and spending package through Congress while also assisting with Cabinet confirmations and congressional battles over foreign policy.
Before joining the White House, Braid worked as a senior policy aide to then-Sen. J.D. Vance.
He also previously held senior positions connected to the House Freedom Caucus and several Republican lawmakers.
Vice President J.D. Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) have praised Braid’s role in helping secure legislative victories for the administration, per Trending Politics.
Martin’s departure, however, comes with a clearly defined next step.
According to Trump, the former federal prosecutor will now concentrate on legal battles connected to election integrity and voting ahead of November’s midterm elections.
The president also said Martin’s work will extend through the 2028 presidential election.
Trump did not announce who would assume Martin’s current responsibilities following his departure.
