President Donald Trump is saying goodbye to another member of his administration — but this departure comes with an important twist.
U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin is leaving the Justice Department to take his legal work outside the federal government, where Trump says his longtime ally will focus on legal battles surrounding the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race.
Rather than signaling a complete break with Trump’s political movement, Martin’s departure could put him on the front lines of election-related legal fights as Republicans prepare for two consequential election cycles.
Trump announced the move Friday while offering strong praise for Martin and his work inside the administration.
Trump Announces Ed Martin’s Departure
Martin served in several important positions during Trump’s second administration.
In addition to becoming U.S. pardon attorney, he previously served as acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia and headed the Justice Department’s Weaponization Working Group.
Trump praised Martin’s record while announcing his departure.
“Ed Martin has been with me from the very beginning,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, before highlighting Martin’s work at the Justice Department.
Trump then revealed what Martin will be doing next.
According to the president, Martin is leaving the administration to “fight Legal Battles” involving the upcoming midterm elections and the 2028 presidential election.
Trump said he believes Martin will help defend constitutional rights while working to promote what the president described as free, fair and honest elections.
The announcement means Martin may be leaving government, but he is not necessarily leaving Trump’s broader political orbit.
Why Ed Martin Is Leaving the Trump Administration
Martin reportedly spent about an hour with Trump at the White House on Friday before his departure was announced.
The two discussed ongoing projects and reportedly reminisced about the late conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, whom both men admired.
Martin’s departure also follows reports of differences between him and Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Those disagreements, however, were not believed to be the reason Martin decided to leave.
Despite their differences, the two men have publicly expressed respect for one another.
Martin had reportedly told colleagues that he intended to leave after completing another major Justice Department project: establishing a federal process allowing eligible people with felony convictions to apply for restoration of their firearms rights.
The Justice Department recently unveiled that application process.
With that initiative established, Martin is now moving into a new role outside the administration.
Martin Played a Key Role Inside Trump’s Justice Department
Martin became one of the more recognizable conservative figures at the Justice Department.
He initially served as acting U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., before Trump later appointed him U.S. pardon attorney.
He was also selected to lead the Justice Department’s Weaponization Working Group.
The group was created to examine government actions that Trump and other Republicans argued represented the improper use of federal law enforcement against conservatives and political opponents.
That assignment put Martin directly inside one of the biggest debates surrounding Trump’s return to Washington: whether federal agencies had been politicized during previous administrations.
Martin also participated in reviews of Biden-era investigations and prosecutions involving Trump and his allies.
Martin Was Involved in High-Profile Investigations
Martin’s Justice Department work extended beyond pardons.
He was involved in efforts surrounding mortgage-fraud allegations against New York Attorney General Letitia James, a prominent Trump political opponent.
James has denied wrongdoing.
Martin’s approach sometimes generated controversy, including criticism over tactics he used while pursuing politically sensitive matters.
His defenders, meanwhile, viewed his willingness to challenge powerful government officials as one of his strengths.
Those competing views made Martin a closely watched figure throughout his time at the Justice Department.
His Role in Trump’s Pardon Efforts
Martin also played an important part in the Trump administration’s clemency operation.
As U.S. pardon attorney, he helped oversee pardon applications and other clemency matters during a period when Trump made extensive use of his constitutional pardon authority.
That included matters involving defendants convicted of crimes connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Trump issued sweeping clemency after returning to the White House, making the issue one of the earliest and most consequential actions of his second administration.
Martin’s office was responsible for handling pardon requests while maintaining procedures for applicants seeking presidential clemency.
Former Adviser Says Martin Helped Save Pardon Office
Neil W. McCabe, who previously worked as a senior adviser to Martin and later became a reporter for Real America’s Voice, credited his former boss with helping preserve the Office of the Pardon Attorney.
McCabe said there had been discussion early in Trump’s administration about whether the office should continue operating.
According to McCabe, Martin helped turn the operation around and demonstrate that it could continue playing a useful role inside the Justice Department.
That could prove to be a significant part of Martin’s legacy as he exits federal service.
What Will Ed Martin Do Next?
That’s now the biggest unanswered question.
Trump made clear that Martin will work on legal issues connected to the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election.
Exactly who will employ him remains unclear.
No specific Republican organization, conservative legal group or election-integrity organization was immediately identified as Martin’s next destination.
His experience, however, could make him an important player in future disputes involving election laws, ballot procedures, voter eligibility and other constitutional questions.
Both major political parties have increasingly relied on teams of attorneys before, during and after elections as battles over voting rules move through state and federal courts.
Martin’s departure suggests Trump’s allies are already looking beyond Election Day politics and preparing for potential courtroom battles as well.
Trump Is Already Looking Toward 2026 and 2028
The timing of the announcement is especially significant.
Control of Congress will be at stake in the 2026 midterm elections, making House and Senate races critical to Trump’s ability to advance his agenda during the remainder of his presidency.
The 2028 presidential election will then determine who succeeds Trump in the White House.
That makes election law and voting procedures increasingly important to Republicans and Democrats alike.
Trump’s decision to specifically mention both elections while announcing Martin’s departure suggests the former Justice Department official’s next assignment could have national political significance.
Alice Johnson Remains in White House Pardon Role
Martin’s departure does not mean Trump’s clemency operation is disappearing.
Alice Johnson remains the White House pardon czar.
Trump commuted Johnson’s life sentence during his first administration and later granted her a full pardon. She subsequently became a prominent advocate for criminal justice reform.
Her continued presence gives the White House an experienced figure overseeing clemency issues as Martin moves on.
Martin Leaves Government — But Not the Political Fight
At first glance, another senior official leaving the Trump administration might look like a traditional Washington shake-up.
Martin’s situation appears different.
Trump isn’t publicly distancing himself from his former Justice Department ally. Instead, the president is openly praising him and pointing toward his next mission.
Martin is trading a federal government position for an outside legal role that could put him directly into some of the biggest political and constitutional battles of the next several years.
For Republican voters concerned about election integrity, government accountability and constitutional protections, Martin’s next move will be worth watching.
And with control of Congress on the line in the midterms — followed by an open presidential contest in 2028 — Trump’s announcement shows that preparations for America’s next political battles are already well underway.
