Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi Diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer Following Trump's Dismissal

Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The health news emerged shortly after she was dismissed by President Donald Trump from her position as the country’s top law enforcement official last month. The 60-year-old confirmed to CBS News partner that she is currently undergoing treatment, including surgery performed several weeks ago. Despite battling the illness, Bondi will continue working and join the White House’s new Artificial Intelligence (AI) advisory council, the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Former White House adviser Katie Miller offered moral support on social media, writing, ‘Pam has quietly beaten cancer over the past few weeks,’ adding that Bondi ‘has a heart of gold.’ According to Cleveland Clinic data, thyroid cancer has a five-year survival rate above 98%, with most forms treatable and curable. However, the stage of Bondi’s cancer remains unclear. Bondi’s appointment to PCAST marks her first career activity since leaving the Department of Justice in early April. Vice President JD Vance welcomed the appointment, stating, ‘Pam has been an invaluable asset to the president’s team, and I am delighted for her and for all of us that she will remain involved in addressing some of the government’s most critical issues.’ The PCAST advisory council was established by Trump through an executive order in January 2025 to bring together top minds in science and technology. Its members, announced in March 2026, include prominent tech industry figures such as Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. In addition to her health and new role, Bondi is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee this Friday regarding the handling of Epstein case documents. The Department of Justice’s policy under Bondi and Trump on releasing Epstein files previously drew bipartisan criticism, particularly from Democrats who alleged key documents were deliberately withheld from the public. Bondi is one of four Trump cabinet members to leave their posts this year, following the dismissal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and the resignation of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.