Is Attorney General Pam Bondi the Achilles’ heel of President Donald Trump’s cabinet, dragging down public trust with her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files?

As the least popular member of Trump’s team, Bondi’s negative net approval rating of -1%—with 36% disapproval against 35% approval, per a Daily Mail poll by JL Partners—reflects widespread frustration over delays and opacity surrounding the Epstein documents, while also tarnishing Trump’s own standing with voters.

For hardworking taxpayers, especially those who’ve long demanded accountability from Washington, this saga represents a direct financial burden as Justice Department resources are tied up in a review process that’s yielded little new insight despite months of promises.

Bondi’s Approval Rating Hits Rock Bottom

Most other U.S. officials in the poll either broke even or earned positive marks, but Bondi stands out as a sore thumb with only 29% of 1,000 respondents feeling neutral or unsure about her performance.

Vice President JD Vance shares her -1% net rating, though his 41% approval outpaces Bondi’s by a notable margin, suggesting her personal leadership style or decisions are uniquely unpalatable to the base.

Even Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, tied at 35% approval and disapproval, and others like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kristi Noem, who edge out with slight positive ratings, seem to dodge the public ire Bondi has attracted.

Epstein Files Spark Public Outrage

When Trump began his second term, Bondi, as head of the Justice Department, took on the high-profile task of reviewing and releasing the Epstein files, tied to the disgraced financier and convicted offender, with a pledge for full disclosure.

By February 2025, hopes were dashed when she handed out binders labeled ‘The Epstein Files: Phase 1’ to conservative influencers at the White House, only for them to contain recycled, already-public material—hardly the bombshell many expected.

Come July 2025, Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel issued a statement wrapping up the review, claiming no new information warranted additional charges, a conclusion that infuriated Trump’s supporters who’d been clamoring for fresh revelations.

Delayed Releases Fuel Further Discontent

On December 19, 2025, under congressional mandate signed by the President, the Justice Department finally released hundreds of thousands of images, letters, and documents related to Epstein, with more trickling out in the following days.

Internet sleuths have since pored over this trove, hunting for hidden truths, but the late timing of the release has done little to repair the damage to public trust in Bondi’s oversight.

Polls, including the Daily Mail’s conducted on December 20 and 21, 2025, confirm that both Bondi’s and Trump’s approval numbers have taken a hit over this perceived lack of transparency, with 7% of respondents citing the Epstein files as a key reason for their disapproval of the President.

Cabinet Shakeup Speculation Grows Stronger

Adding fuel to the fire, prediction market site Kalshi now pegs Bondi as the most likely cabinet member to exit first, with a 19% chance—up from just 8% on December 18, 2025—while Hegseth trails at 15%.

While no major White House departures have occurred recently, aside from Mike Waltz’s earlier reassignment from National Security Adviser due to an unrelated scandal, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino’s planned exit in the new year—confirmed by Trump—signals further unrest, partly tied to his frustration with Bondi’s handling of the files.

For a movement built on draining the swamp, Bondi’s stumbles are a bitter pill, but conservatives must keep pressing for accountability—no matter who sits in the hot seat—because the American people deserve nothing less than the unvarnished truth about Epstein’s network.