Overview

• President Trump designated Alina Habba to continue as acting U.S. Attorney in New Jersey after withdrawing her permanent nomination, invoking federal vacancy statutes to prolong her service.
• A panel of New Jersey federal judges declined to extend Habba’s 120-day interim term and appointed her deputy, Desiree Leigh Grace, as U.S. Attorney.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi fired Grace following the judicial appointment and denounced the judges as “politically minded” for removing Habba.
• The administration cited both the Vacancies Reform Act and 28 U.S.C. §546 to bypass Senate confirmation and override the court’s selection.
• The standoff highlights a broader clash over executive appointment authority, judicial independence and the influence of the Senate’s blue slip tradition.