United States Deputy Attorney General facts for kids

Quick facts for kids United States Deputy Attorney General
Seal of the Department of Justice
Incumbent Todd Blanche since March 6, 2025
United States Department of Justice
Style	Mr. Deputy Attorney General
Reports to	United States Attorney General
Seat	Department of Justice Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
Appointer	The president with Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument	28 U.S.C. § 504
Formation	May 24, 1950
First holder	Peyton Ford
Salary	Executive Schedule, Level II

The United States Deputy Attorney General is a very important job in the United States Department of Justice. Think of it as the second-in-command. This person helps run the daily activities of the entire department.

When the main United States Attorney General is away, the Deputy Attorney General steps in. They make sure everything keeps running smoothly. This position was created in 1950 to help manage the growing work of the Justice Department.

What Does the Deputy Attorney General Do?

The Deputy Attorney General has a big role. They oversee many different parts of the United States Department of Justice. This includes various divisions and offices that work to enforce laws.

Their main goal is to make sure justice is served fairly across the country. They work closely with the Attorney General to set goals. They also help manage the thousands of employees in the department.

How Does Someone Become Deputy Attorney General?

Becoming the Deputy Attorney General is a serious process. First, the President of the United States chooses a person for the job. This is called a political appointment.

After the President picks someone, the United States Senate must approve them. This approval process is called "advice and consent." The Senate holds hearings to learn about the person. If the Senate agrees, the person can then take office.

A Look at Past Deputy Attorneys General

Many different people have held the role of Deputy Attorney General since 1950. They have served under various presidents. Each one has played a part in the history of the Justice Department.

The first person to hold this position was Peyton Ford. He started on May 24, 1950, during the time of President Harry S. Truman.

Here are a few examples of people who have served in this important role:

• Peyton Ford: The very first Deputy Attorney General, serving from 1950 to 1951.
• William P. Rogers: Served from 1953 to 1957 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
• Nicholas Katzenbach: Held the position from 1962 to 1965, serving under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.
• William Barr: Served from 1990 to 1991 under President George H. W. Bush. He later became the Attorney General.
• Eric Holder: Was Deputy Attorney General from 1997 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He also later became Attorney General.
• James Comey: Served from 2003 to 2005 under President George W. Bush.
• Sally Yates: Was Deputy Attorney General from 2015 to 2017, serving under Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
• Lisa Monaco: Served as Deputy Attorney General from April 21, 2021, until January 20, 2025, under President Joe Biden.
• Todd Blanche: He became the current Deputy Attorney General on March 6, 2025.

Many other dedicated individuals have served as Deputy Attorney General. They all helped lead the Department of Justice.

Images for kids

• 

  A. Devitt Vanech

• 

  William P. Rogers

• 

  Lawrence Walsh

• 

  Byron White

• 

  Nicholas Katzenbach

• 

  Ramsey Clark

• 

  Warren Christopher

• 

  Richard Kleindienst

• 

  William Ruckelshaus

• 

  Laurence Silberman

• 

  Peter F. Flaherty

• 

  Benjamin Civiletti

• 

  Charles Ruff

• 

  D. Lowell Jensen

• 

  Arnold Burns

• 

  Donald B. Ayer

• 

  William Barr

• 

  George Terwilliger

• 

  Philip Heymann

• 

  Jamie Gorelick

• 

  Eric Holder

• 

  Robert Mueller

• 

  Larry Thompson

• 

  James Comey

• 

  Robert McCallum Jr.

• 

  Paul McNulty

• 

  Craig S. Morford

• 

  Mark Filip

• 

  David W. Ogden

• 

  Gary Grindler

• 

  James M. Cole

• 

  Sally Yates

• 

  Dana Boente

• 

  Rod Rosenstein

• 

  Ed O'Callaghan

• 

  Jeffrey A. Rosen

• 

  Richard Donoghue

• 

  John P. Carlin

• 

  Lisa Monaco

• 

  Emil Bove

External links

• Official website of the Deputy Attorney General: https://www.justice.gov/dag