Alina Habba has been officially appointed as the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, following a back-and-forth standoff that exposed tensions between the Trump administration and the federal judiciary.
Habba, who previously served as interim U.S. Attorney, faced a setback earlier this week when federal judges in New Jersey declined to extend her appointment, instead selecting Desiree Grace to replace her.
But in a swift response, Attorney General Pam Bondi stepped in — removing Grace and reinstating Habba under her authority.
“This Is a Fight for Justice — And I’m All In”
After the shake-up, Habba declared her reinstatement publicly on X:
“Donald J. Trump is the 47th President. Pam Bondi is the Attorney General. And I am now the Acting United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
I don’t cower to pressure. I don’t answer to politics.
This is a fight for justice. And I’m all in.”
The White House followed with a statement reaffirming its support:
“President Trump continues to have full confidence in Alina Habba and her commitment to serve the people of New Jersey.”
Judges Attempted to Block Habba
Habba’s 120-day interim term was set to expire Friday. However, rather than approve an extension, district judges installed their own pick — a move Bondi immediately condemned.
“This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges — especially when they threaten the President’s core Article II powers,” Bondi said.
After briefly being reassigned as first assistant, Habba was quickly elevated to the top federal prosecutor role for New Jersey through executive authority granted under the Vacancies Reform Act.
Habba Brings Trump Loyalty to DOJ Leadership
Habba, who formerly served as President Trump’s personal attorney, is now one of the highest-profile federal prosecutors in the country.
Her term as acting U.S. Attorney is expected to last at least 210 days.
Bondi and Habba have both vowed to pursue equal justice under the law, even as entrenched federal judges continue to resist Trump administration reforms.
