Trump Brings Pam Bondi Back Into White House Orbit Amid Reportedly Cancer Battle

President Donald Trump is bringing former Attorney General Pam Bondi back into his administration orbit just weeks after removing her from the Justice Department and amid a reported private battle with thyroid cancer.

Bondi, one of Trump's closest political allies, has been appointed to the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, or PCAST, an influential White House advisory body focused on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, according to Axios.

Neither the White House or Bondi have confirmed or denied the reports.

The appointment marks a dramatic return for Bondi, who was ousted as attorney general in April following growing tensions inside the administration over the Justice Department's handling of several politically explosive investigations, including the Jeffrey Epstein files controversy. Reuters previously reported that Trump had fired Bondi after frustrations mounted among White House officials and MAGA allies.

Axios also reported that Bondi was diagnosed with thyroid cancer shortly after leaving the Justice Department. Sources told the outlet she underwent treatment and is now recovering.

The revelation sparked an outpouring of support from Trump allies. Former White House official Katie Miller wrote on X that Bondi had been "quietly kicking cancer's ass the last few weeks," praising her resilience during the health battle.

The New York Post later confirmed the diagnosis and reported that Bondi's prognosis is considered strong because thyroid cancer typically has a high survival rate when treated early.

Bondi, 60, served as Florida attorney general before becoming one of Trump's most visible defenders during his impeachment battles and later his second administration's top law enforcement official. During her tenure at DOJ, she oversaw aggressive immigration enforcement efforts, election integrity investigations and politically charged probes that frequently placed her at the center of national controversy.

Her time leading the Justice Department also became deeply intertwined with the administration's handling of the Epstein investigation. Bondi faced criticism from Democrats and even some Trump supporters over delays, redactions and disputes surrounding the release of Epstein-related files. Congressional investigators later sought her testimony as part of an oversight inquiry.

Trump replaced Bondi with Todd Blanche as acting attorney general after her dismissal.

Despite the turbulent exit, Bondi appears to remain in Trump's inner circle. Vice President JD Vance praised her continued role in the administration, telling Axios that she remained "an enormously valuable asset" to Trump's team.

The move also reflects how central artificial intelligence has become to Trump's second-term agenda. The administration has increasingly treated AI as both an economic race against China and a domestic political issue involving jobs, online speech, cybersecurity and national security.

PCAST, the panel Bondi is joining, advises the president on science and technology policy and includes leaders from business, academia and government. According to Axios, Bondi's role will involve helping coordinate between federal officials and major technology executives involved in AI development.

Bondi's return comes during a period in which several prominent Trump administration figures have publicly dealt with health crises. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles recently revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer while continuing to work in the administration.