Attorney General Pam Bondi has fired a Department of Justice paralegal after she was caught on camera making an obscene gesture and shouting profanities at National Guard members stationed in Washington, D.C. The dismissal underscores the administration’s pledge to uphold respect for law enforcement and remove employees who undermine that mission.
The staffer, identified as Elizabeth Baxter, worked in the Environmental Defense Section of the DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. Surveillance footage from August 18 showed Baxter raising her middle finger toward Guard members near Metro Center and yelling “F— the National Guard.” She was later observed repeating the gesture and cursing at officers near the DOJ’s 4CON building.
Bondi confirmed the firing in a public statement, declaring that inappropriate behavior toward law enforcement would not be tolerated inside the Department of Justice. “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,” she said.
Baxter’s termination follows another DOJ dismissal earlier this summer, when staffer Sean Charles Dunn was fired for throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection officer. Bondi has emphasized zero tolerance for misconduct, making clear that DOJ employees are expected to reflect the department’s mission in both their professional and personal conduct.
The incident highlights the heightened visibility of federal employees at a time when National Guard members are increasingly deployed to support security operations in Washington. Bondi’s swift decision reinforces the administration’s alignment with law enforcement and its insistence that those working under DOJ leadership demonstrate respect for uniformed service members.
