Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, just weeks after President Donald Trump removed her from her position as the nation’s top law enforcement official.
Bondi, 60, shared details of her diagnosis with CBS News. She underwent surgery a few weeks ago and is currently receiving treatment. Despite the health challenge, she remains active and will join the White House’s Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), a new advisory group focused on artificial intelligence and other critical science and technology issues.
Positive Outlook and Support
Podcast host and former White House adviser Katie Miller offered supportive words on social media, saying Bondi has been “quietly kicking cancer’s ass the last few weeks.” Miller added that Bondi “has a heart of gold.”
Thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it has a five-year survival rate of over 98 percent, and many cases are permanently curable. It is not yet clear what stage Bondi’s cancer is at.
Recent Career Moves
Bondi left the Department of Justice at the beginning of April. At the time, she said she was looking forward to moving into the private sector. Her appointment to PCAST marks her first major public role since leaving the Justice Department.
Vice President JD Vance praised her work in a statement, saying, “Pam has been an enormously valuable asset to the president’s team, and I’m thrilled for her and for all of us that she’s going to remain involved in confronting some of the most important issues the administration faces.”
President Trump created PCAST by executive order in January 2025 to bring together top experts from academia, industry, and government to guide U.S. leadership in science and technology. The first members, announced in March 2026, include tech leaders such as Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
Ongoing Responsibilities
Bondi, known for her strong loyalty to Trump since his first term, is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Friday. She is expected to answer questions about the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which has drawn bipartisan criticism.
Broader Context
Bondi is one of several Trump cabinet members who have left their positions this year. Others include former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Last week, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation, citing her husband’s recent bone cancer diagnosis.
Bondi’s diagnosis adds a personal health battle to an already eventful period in the Trump administration. She continues to balance treatment with public service as she takes on her new advisory role.