Matt Gaetz to Serve as Attorney General in Trump’s Second Term, Aims to Reshape DOJ and Support Bitcoin

Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida is the latest name to get a post under Trump's second administration. He will serve as the next Attorney General.

Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida has been nominated by incoming President Donald Trump to serve as the next Attorney General of the United States.

Gaetz, a staunch supporter of crypto and blockchain technology, has previously made headlines for his outspoken views on digital currency policies and federal oversight.

Earlier in June, Gaetz proposed that US residents be allowed to pay their income tax with Bitcoin.

Trump's nomination of Gaetz is one of the highest-profile announcements this week. The president’s recommendation on Wednesday is by far his most controversial yet, signaling that the president wants to shake things up.

Gaetz is a colorful and controversial figure in Republican politics, and he is best known for being one of the lawmakers who called for the ouster of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!

pic.twitter.com/dg0iQ0bA6Y

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 13, 2024

Trump described Gaetz as a “tenacious and gifted attorney” who used his time in Congress to reform the justice system. Matt Gaetz has consistently called out the Biden administration for “weaponizing the justice system.”

Once confirmed by the Senate, Gaetz aims to rebuild the DOJ, restore its credibility, and ensure that it operates in a transparent manner.

Gaetz is a vocal supporter of crypto and blockchain technology. In June, he proposed to allow US residents to pay their income tax with Bitcoin.

The bill aims to amend the country’s Internal Revenue Code to allow the United States Treasury to accept BTC as a payment method. According to Gaetz, this move will foster innovation, promote efficiency, and offer options to Americans.

Under the Matt Gaetz bill, the Treasury secretary must recommend rules on processing BTC payments for specific types of taxes. The bill further states that BTC payments will be converted into USD immediately after receipt.

Gaetz's nomination is part of Trump's push to legitimize Bitcoin and crypto. During the campaign, Trump promised to support the crypto industry by ending President Joe Biden's aggressive policies against Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. In one of his speeches, Trump pledged to make the US the capital of Bitcoin mining.

Aside from Gaetz, a few more pro-crypto officials are under consideration. For example, Howard Lutnick of Cantor Fitzgerald is groomed to become the Treasury secretary. Also, Trump has announced the appointment of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).