In a move that’s raising eyebrows across the legal community and stirring debate in the nation’s capital, military attorneys have been assigned to work alongside federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., handling civilian criminal cases. On August 22, 2025, twenty members of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps began their detail to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C., marking a significant escalation in President Trump’s federal involvement in local law enforcement, according to reporting from The Hill and NBC News.
Usually, JAG officers represent the armed forces or individual service members in legal disputes, often dealing with courts-martial, military discipline, or administrative hearings. Their new role—prosecuting civilian crimes in the heart of the nation’s capital—is not only unusual but also unprecedented in recent history. This development comes amid what officials describe as a severe shortage of staff in the D.C. prosecutor’s office, a crisis compounded by waves of firings and resignations within the Department of Justice.
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for D.C., confirmed the assignment and was unequivocal in her support of the administration’s approach. “The assignment of 20 JAGs to my office is further proof of President Trump’s commitment to fighting and reducing crime in the district,” Pirro said in a statement, as reported by Nexstar Media and NBC News. She emphasized that the move was designed to address both rising crime and the acute need for additional prosecutorial manpower.
For those unfamiliar with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., it’s a unique institution. Unlike its counterparts in other jurisdictions, this office is responsible not only for prosecuting federal crimes but also for handling most criminal matters that come before the D.C. Superior Court. The sheer volume and variety of cases—ranging from local thefts to high-profile federal prosecutions—make it the largest and arguably most complex U.S. attorney’s office in the country.
But even a powerhouse office can be stretched thin. Pirro has been vocal about the challenges her team faces, noting in a recent Fox News appearance that she was down “90 prosecutors, 60 investigators and paralegals.” She didn’t mince words when it came to recruitment, urging, “If you want a job in the nation’s capital in the premier office, the largest U.S. attorney’s office, contact me.” The shortage, she explained, was not just a matter of attrition. According to NBC News, many of the departures stemmed from the Trump administration’s decision to oust prosecutors who had worked on cases related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. That shakeup, followed by a wave of resignations, left the office scrambling to cover its caseload.
The decision to bring in military attorneys is, in many ways, a stopgap solution. As one legal analyst put it, “It’s not every day you see JAG officers prosecuting civilian crimes in a major American city.” While the JAG Corps is renowned for its legal acumen within the military justice system, the leap into civilian criminal law—especially in a jurisdiction as complex as D.C.—presents new challenges. Still, the administration insists the move is necessary to restore order and ensure that justice is served, especially as crime rates and public scrutiny of law enforcement remain high.
The influx of military lawyers is also a reflection of broader trends in federal law enforcement. Over the past year, the Trump administration has steadily increased its involvement in local policing efforts in the capital, arguing that a stronger federal presence is needed to combat crime and maintain public safety. Critics, however, warn of the risks associated with blurring the lines between military and civilian law enforcement. Civil liberties groups have expressed concern that involving the military—even in a legal capacity—could set a dangerous precedent and undermine the independence of the justice system.
“This is an unusual role for military attorneys, who normally represent the armed forces and soldiers in legal disputes,” NBC News noted. The assignment, while legal, is highly unconventional. The Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement, does not explicitly bar military lawyers from participating in civilian prosecutions. Still, the spirit of the law is intended to maintain a clear separation between military and civilian roles in American society.
Supporters of the move argue that desperate times call for creative solutions. The D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office, with its dual mandate and heavy caseload, simply cannot function effectively without adequate staffing. The addition of twenty JAG officers, they say, will help the office keep pace with its docket and ensure that cases don’t fall through the cracks. “The assignment of 20 JAGs to my office is further proof of President Trump’s commitment to fighting and reducing crime in the district,” Pirro reiterated, underscoring the administration’s focus on law and order.
But not everyone is convinced. Some legal experts worry about the potential for conflicts of interest or differences in legal philosophy between military and civilian prosecutors. Others point to the broader implications for American democracy. “When you start bringing in the military to shore up civilian law enforcement, even in the courtroom, you have to ask: What does that say about the state of our institutions?” one former federal prosecutor remarked. The debate is likely to intensify as the new JAG prosecutors settle into their roles and begin taking on cases.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department continues to grapple with the fallout from the January 6 prosecutions. The ousting of prosecutors involved in those cases has had a ripple effect throughout the department, contributing to the current staffing crisis and fueling concerns about political interference in the justice system. For now, the focus remains on restoring stability and ensuring that the wheels of justice keep turning in the nation’s capital.
As the city looks ahead, the presence of military attorneys in civilian courtrooms will serve as a visible reminder of the extraordinary measures being taken to address crime and staffing shortages. Whether this experiment proves effective—or sets a precedent for future administrations—remains to be seen. For now, Washington, D.C. finds itself at the center of a legal and political drama that’s likely to reverberate far beyond its borders.
