Alina Habba is stepping down as acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey after a federal appeals court ruled that Attorney General Pam Bondi improperly appointed her to the post.
Bondi announced Monday that Habba, a sharp-tongued Trump ally, will transition into a new role as senior adviser at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Meanwhile, three DOJ officials will divide leadership responsibilities in the New Jersey district as the administration recalibrates its legal strategy in the state.
Habba, a former personal attorney to President Donald Trump, was the administration’s preferred choice to stay in the role.
Before being tapped earlier this year to temporarily lead the New Jersey U.S. attorney’s office, Habba was a prominent fixture of Trump’s legal team.
But once her temporary term in New Jersey expired, the White House and DOJ pursued a series of unconventional steps to keep her in place.
However, a three-judge appellate panel determined that these moves violated federal vacancy laws.
The court argued that neither Trump nor the DOJ had authority to bypass the Senate confirmation process in order to reinstall Habba in the position.
DOJ Shifts to a Three-Person Leadership Team
With Habba’s departure, DOJ officials Philip Lamparello, Jordan Fox, and Ari Fontecchio will jointly oversee operations in the New Jersey district.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement:
“I have full confidence in each of these exceptional attorneys and look forward to our continued collaboration as we make New Jersey and America safe again.”
Blue States Continue Fighting Trump Appointees
Habba’s exit marks the latest instance of the Trump administration struggling to secure leadership positions in deep-blue states where Senate traditions allow home-state senators significant influence over federal judicial and prosecutorial appointments.
In a separate case, a federal judge ruled that Lindsey Halligan, a former insurance lawyer and White House aide, was unlawfully serving as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
DOJ leaders pushed back, calling Halligan a “U.S. attorney” and labeling the ruling “judicial bias.”
Halligan had quickly pursued high-profile indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
However, the cases were thrown out after the Democrat-aligned court argued that she lacked the legal authority to bring them.
What Comes Next
The administration is expected to continue seeking loyalists to lead key U.S. attorney offices, though courts in Democratic-controlled states have shown increased resistance to temporary appointments that bypass Senate confirmation.
Habba remains a close Trump confidante and, in her new senior adviser role, is still positioned to exert influence over DOJ strategy as the administration navigates ongoing legal and political battles.
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