Brett Shumate Confirmed as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division
Shumate was approved in a straight party-line vote in the U.S. Senate.
The U.S. Senate today held a recorded vote to confirm one individual nominated by President Donald Trump to serve in the executive branch of government - specifically in the U.S. Department of Justice led by Attorney General Pam Bondi since February 2025.
In a 51-41 vote, Brett Shumate was confirmed as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. The position has been held by three separate acting officials since July 2020, when Jody Hunt resigned after serving since September 2018.
51 Republicans approved Shumate’s nomination. 39 Democrats and two Independents voted in opposition. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Todd Young (R-IN) did not vote.
Shumate was nominated to this position by Trump in February 2025. He previously served as Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division in January 2025 when Trump returned to office. He transitioned to the DOJ’s Tax Division after he was nominated to lead the Civil Division.
From September 2007 to June 2017, Shumate was employed at Wiley Rein LLP in Washington, D.C. - becoming a partner in January 2015. He left to become Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division where he held the position from June 2017 to June 2019. From August 2019 to January 2025, he served as a partner at Jones Day in Washington, D.C. He was also a member of the Executive Committee of The Federalist Society from 2016 to 2025.