President Donald Trump’s decision to remove Attorney General Pam Bondi has triggered a scramble over who could permanently take over the Justice Department, with a small group of allies and administration officials emerging as the most plausible contenders.

Trump confirmed Thursday that Bondi would be replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, elevating his former personal defense attorney to serve as acting attorney general while the White House weighs a permanent pick. The Senate is not set to return until April 13, giving Trump a window to deliberate before any nomination fight begins.