CHICAGO (WLS) — The U.S. Department of Justice is operating under a nationwide hiring freeze, with some exceptions.

That mandate came down Jan. 20, when President Donald Trump took office.

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The recently appointed U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois is actively reaching out to potential candidates, urging former federal prosecutors to consider joining the team.

An email from U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros starts by addressing former colleagues from the NDIL, stating, “Several of you have personally contacted me…showing interest in rejoining the Office as Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs).”

The email popped into former federal prosecutor Ron Safer’s inbox last week.

“It’s sort of astounding, but it was an invitation,” Safer said.

Over a dozen ex-federal prosecutors, including some current judges, informed the I-Team that they also received this unexpected email and were taken aback by it.

“You have people who come to the office, give what they have to give, and then leave. By and large, there is turnover by design,” Safer said.

Safer hasn’t worked in the Northern District of Illinois office in more than 25 years.

Safer mentioned to the I-Team, “We all have a deep affection for the office. Even years after becoming defense attorneys, we identify as prosecutors at heart.”

Known as “the formers,” these attorneys are a closely-knit group in Chicago’s legal scene, making Safer’s open criticism unexpected for some who spoke to the I-Team.

Since U.S. Attorney Boutros was sworn in this April, the office has been contracting. Notably, the head of the criminal division recently stepped down.

In February, the Northern District of Illinois told the I-Team they had 144 prosecutors. In July, they were down to 126, and that includes prosecutors who took the so-called “fork in the road” retirement in Department of Government Efficiency cuts.

Despite that, a spokesperson says the indictments are up 140% for the first six months of this year over last year.

The email seeking applicants from alumni included a link to the job posting. Under qualifications, a line in bold reads: “Prior federal criminal prosecution experience in NDIL is not required, but candidates with such experience are encouraged and will be given serious consideration.”

“I think in the long run, damage to this office is being done that will be difficult to be undone,” Safer said.

It is considered standard procedure for the U.S. attorney to promote and install their own people in leadership.

It’s the way Boutros is going about it that concerns many of the people the I-Team spoke to, who requested anonymity to talk freely.

The I-Team reached out to the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago and were told “we’ll hold off commenting.”