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United States Department of Justice
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<p>The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a <a href="/facts/United_States_federal_executive_departments/qMKY8RGz">federal executive department</a> of the <a href="/facts/U.S._government/VJCxUaf7">U.S. government</a> that oversees the domestic enforcement of <a href="/facts/Law_of_the_United_States/qVcQjGCe">federal laws</a> and the <a href="/facts/Administration_of_justice/TpTHrac5">administration of justice</a>. It is equivalent to the <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_justice/u2r5KRco">justice</a> or <a href="/facts/Interior_ministries/avUIRDbE">interior ministries</a> of other countries. The department is headed by the <a href="/facts/U.S._attorney_general/8VaY1rlI">U.S. attorney general</a>, who reports directly to the <a href="/facts/President_of_the_United_States/oMsfmLb1">president of the United States</a> and is a member of the president's <a href="/facts/United_States_Cabinet/2ouVJrjQ">Cabinet</a>. <a href="/facts/Pam_Bondi/Sq54dIk0">Pam Bondi</a> has served as U.S. attorney general since February 4, 2025. </p><p>The Justice Department contains most of the United States' <a href="/facts/Federal_law_enforcement_in_the_United_States/UJvsMwEk">federal law enforcement agencies</a>, including the <a href="/facts/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation/UY93jwX6">Federal Bureau of Investigation</a>, the <a href="/facts/U.S._Marshals_Service/S3VH9YYd">U.S. Marshals Service</a>, the <a href="/facts/Bureau_of_Alcohol%2c_Tobacco%2c_Firearms_and_Explosives/orftTb48">Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives</a>, the <a href="/facts/Drug_Enforcement_Administration/qGQpHNB8">Drug Enforcement Administration</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Federal_Bureau_of_Prisons/fKVlmn6V">Federal Bureau of Prisons</a>. The department also has eight divisions of lawyers who represent the federal government in litigation: the <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Justice_Criminal_Division/v5Gpy0SH">Criminal</a>, <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Justice_Civil_Division/sc9EzblM">Civil</a>, <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Justice_Antitrust_Division/II22BCm8">Antitrust</a>, <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Justice_Tax_Division/IwL0IEo3">Tax</a>, <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Justice_Civil_Rights_Division/JAJMA0aF">Civil Rights</a>, <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Justice_Environment_and_Natural_Resources_Division/pL4QUzVX">Environment and Natural Resources</a>, <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Justice_National_Security_Division/glAlXR9U">National Security</a>, and <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Justice_Justice_Management_Division/LfTzsSfN">Justice Management Divisions</a>. The DOJ includes the <a href="/facts/U.S._Attorneys%2527_Offices/6YHz3t2e">U.S. Attorneys' Offices</a> for each of the 94 <a href="/facts/U.S._federal_judicial_districts/PfpALkrT">U.S. federal judicial districts</a>. </p><p>The <a href="/facts/U.S._Congress/mJlU46K7">U.S. Congress</a> created the Justice Department in 1870, during the <a href="/facts/Presidency_of_Ulysses_S._Grant/XraaKWSj">presidency of Ulysses S. Grant</a>. Its functions originally date to 1789, when Congress created the office of the Attorney General. </p>