In a move that’s stirred both debate and strong reactions across Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi fired Department of Justice paralegal specialist Elizabeth Baxter on August 29, 2025, after a series of incidents involving National Guard members stationed in the nation’s capital. The firing comes at a time of heightened law enforcement presence, following President Donald Trump’s directive to deploy National Guard troops to the city in an effort to crack down on crime.
The controversy began on August 18, when Baxter, employed in the DOJ’s Environmental Defense Section at the 4CON building in the NoMa district, reportedly flipped off a National Guard member at the Metro Center Metro Stop. According to The New York Post, Baxter relayed the incident to a security guard at her workplace, allegedly boasting about her actions and stating, “F--- the National Guard.”
Surveillance footage obtained by The New York Post and corroborated by DOJ security cameras reportedly showed Baxter making the obscene gesture and cursing at National Guard members not just once, but on multiple occasions. Around August 25, she again expressed her disdain for the National Guard, telling a security guard at the DOJ office that she hated the Guard and told them to “F--- off!” The security videos captured her raising her middle finger and saying, “F--- you,” directed at the National Guard members stationed nearby.
The Department of Justice responded swiftly. After an internal investigation involving multiple witnesses, Bondi issued a termination letter to Baxter on the evening of August 29. The letter, as reported by The New York Post, stated, “Pursuant to Article II of the United States Constitution and the laws of the United States and based on your inappropriate conduct towards National Guard service members, your employment with the Department of Justice is hereby terminated, and you are removed from federal service effective immediately.”
Bondi made her position clear in a public statement shared on X (formerly Twitter): “Today, I took action to terminate a DOJ employee for inappropriate conduct towards National Guard service members in DC. This DOJ remains committed to defending President Trump’s agenda and fighting to make America safe again. If you oppose our mission and disrespect law enforcement — you will NO LONGER work at DOJ.”
The firing of Baxter is not an isolated event. Earlier in August, Bondi also terminated another DOJ employee, Sean Charles Dunn, who worked in the same 4CON building. Dunn was accused of throwing a Subway sandwich at a Border Protection officer and was subsequently charged with felony assault. Both firings have drawn attention to the DOJ’s approach under Bondi’s leadership and the broader political climate in Washington, D.C., where law enforcement visibility has increased substantially at the behest of the Trump administration.
The deployment of National Guard troops to D.C. has been met with mixed reactions. Supporters of the move, including Bondi and others in the Trump administration, argue that the increased presence is necessary to restore order and ensure public safety. According to Bondi’s statement, the DOJ is “committed to defending President Trump’s agenda and fighting to make America safe again.” For them, any act of disrespect towards law enforcement or the military is not just inappropriate—it’s grounds for immediate dismissal.
Critics, however, point to the tension such a visible show of force can create between law enforcement and the local community, including federal employees. Baxter’s actions, while clearly in violation of workplace conduct standards, have also reignited discussions about the boundaries of free speech and the limits of employee expression—especially in government workplaces.
As noted by legal experts cited in the coverage, the act of “flipping off” someone, while considered obscene by many, is generally protected by the First Amendment’s free speech guarantees. Shubin Law, referenced by The New York Post, clarified that the gesture itself is not illegal. However, the DOJ’s Ethics Handbook for On and Off-Duty Conduct stipulates that employees must avoid any behavior that creates the appearance of violating the law or ethical standards. In this case, Baxter’s repeated gestures and verbal outbursts were deemed to cross that line, justifying her termination according to DOJ policy.
The termination letter, a copy of which was included in The New York Post report, emphasized the legal and ethical basis for Baxter’s removal: “You are removed from your position of Paralegal Specialist, GS-0950-11, Environmental Defense Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and from the federal service, effective immediately.” The investigation leading up to her firing involved reviewing security footage and gathering statements from multiple witnesses, ensuring that the decision was based on a thorough assessment of the facts.
Neither the Department of Justice nor Baxter responded to media requests for comment in the immediate aftermath of the firing. The lack of public comment from Baxter has left some questions about her perspective on the events, though her actions and statements as captured on security footage and relayed by witnesses leave little ambiguity about her feelings toward the National Guard’s presence in D.C.
The incidents involving both Baxter and Dunn have underscored the high expectations for conduct among DOJ employees, particularly in a politically charged environment. With President Trump’s directive for a stronger law enforcement presence in the capital, the DOJ under Bondi has signaled a zero-tolerance policy for any perceived disrespect toward law enforcement or the military.
At the same time, the situation has prompted a broader conversation about workplace rights, freedom of expression, and the ethical responsibilities of federal employees. While the First Amendment protects many forms of speech, government agencies retain significant discretion to enforce codes of conduct, especially when behavior is seen as undermining the agency’s mission or public trust.
As the city—and the nation—continues to grapple with questions of public safety, civil liberties, and the role of federal employees, the firings at the DOJ serve as a potent reminder of the complexities at play. For now, Bondi’s message is unequivocal: disrespect toward law enforcement will not be tolerated within the Department of Justice. The reverberations of that stance, however, are likely to be felt well beyond the walls of the 4CON building.
