Alina Habba's Interim Term as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Ends Amid Judicial Replacement

On Tuesday, New Jersey's top federal judge, Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb, signed an order appointing Desiree Leigh Grace as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, effectively ending the interim term of Alina Habba. Habba, who began her role on March 24 and previously served as former President Donald Trump's lawyer and spokesperson, had a 120-day interim term. Despite the judge's order, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on X (Twitter) that Habba's term is not set to expire until Friday and criticized the hastiness of the replacement as driven by a "leftwing agenda" rather than the rule of law. During her tenure, Habba was active in media and faced scrutiny for her comments and notably for charging Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., over an incident at an ICE detention center in Newark in May. McIver was later indicted on three charges by a federal grand jury and pleaded not guilty. Blanche further expressed on Monday that Habba enjoys the full confidence of DOJ leadership, emphasizing her aggressive and independent handling of the office and urging judges to keep her in place without undue political influence. Meanwhile, former President Trump has nominated Habba for the permanent U.S. Attorney position, although her nomination has not progressed in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey did not immediately respond to requests for comment on these developments.

Alina Habba, appointed as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey by then-President Donald Trump on March 24, 2025, was fired by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on July 22, 2025, following a decision by New Jersey federal judges not to extend her interim appointment. Habba was sworn in on March 28, 2025, and her 120-day term as interim U.S. attorney was set to expire on July 22, 2025, or whenever designated by the court. Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb signed an order that declined to extend Habba's tenure and instead named Desiree Leigh Grace, New Jersey's first assistant U.S. attorney, as her replacement.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Habba's firing and criticized the judges, stating on social media that "This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges especially when they threaten the President's core Article II powers." Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also stated that Habba's term had not yet officially expired as of the announcement and accused opponents of having a "leftwing agenda".

Habba previously served as a spokesperson and personal attorney for Donald Trump, including representing him during his civil fraud trial in 2023 and 2024, and was later counselor to the president. Trump formally nominated her for a four-year term on July 1, 2025, but her nomination was still pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee at the time of her interim removal.

During her tenure as interim U.S. attorney, Habba was noted for her aggressive and independent approach, including charging Representative LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) over a confrontation at an ICE detention center in Newark, which led to a federal grand jury indicting McIver on three charges. The replacement and firing caused confusion regarding the leadership of the office and questions about whether Grace's appointment would be enforceable or challenged by the district court judges. The DOJ stated it was exploring options for reappointing nominees rejected by the courts, though it was unclear if Habba would accept reappointment.

Alina Habba, interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and former lawyer and spokesperson for President Donald Trump, was replaced by Desiree Leigh Grace following the expiration of Habba's 120-day interim term. This change was ordered by Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb on Tuesday, who declined to extend Habba's interim appointment that began on March 24. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Habba's term officially expires on Friday, criticizing the judges' early replacement move as politically motivated and a "leftwing agenda, not the rule of law." During her tenure, Habba was noted for her media appearances and her controversial decision to charge Representative LaMonica McIver, Democrat of New Jersey, related to a May confrontation with law enforcement at an ICE detention center in Newark. McIver was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on three charges and pleaded not guilty. Blanche affirmed Habba's performance, saying she has "the full confidence of DOJ leadership" for working "aggressively, independently, and by the book," and urged district judges to disregard political pressures and retain Habba. While Trump has nominated Habba for the permanent U.S. Attorney position, her nomination has yet to proceed before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey had not immediately responded to requests for comment following this development.

On Tuesday, the District of New Jersey's Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb signed an order replacing Alina Habba, the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and former lawyer for President Donald Trump, after the expiration of her 120-day term which began on March 24. Desiree Leigh Grace was named as the new U.S. Attorney. Despite the order, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Habba's term had not yet expired and was set to end on Friday, criticizing the "rush" to replace her as politically motivated. Habba's interim appointment was marked by media appearances and controversies, including her decision to charge Representative LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) over an incident at an ICE detention center in Newark in May; McIver was later indicted on three charges and pleaded not guilty. Blanche expressed confidence in Habba, describing her as "aggressive, independent, and by the book," and urged judges not to be influenced by political considerations. Trump has nominated Habba to serve permanently, but her nomination has yet to advance in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The U.S. Attorney's Office did not immediately comment on the transition.

President Donald Trump has officially nominated Alina Habba for a full four-year term as the U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Habba previously served in an acting capacity and is noted for her role as a prosecutor who arrested a New Jersey mayor and charged a congressmember related to an ICE-related incident. Despite facing opposition from Democratic senators, she has received strong backing from law enforcement groups. Habba has expressed her enthusiasm for the position, telling her staff she loves her job and hopes to continue serving as she awaits a judicial meeting. This nomination formalizes her status and could bring continuity to the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey under the Trump administration.

On an undisclosed date, a Florida man was formally indicted for posting at least 86 online threats claiming intent to kill Alina Habba, the Acting US Attorney for New Jersey. These threats included statements describing a desire to inflict a 'slow and painful death' upon Habba. The case garnered significant attention resulting in a press conference held by the US Attorney’s office in Tampa, Florida, to address the matter and the seriousness of the threats. Authorities confirmed the arrest of the individual from Orlando, Florida, citing the concerning nature and volume of the threats. Alina Habba, known for her interim role as US Attorney and her high-profile prosecutions including cases against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Congressman LaMonica McIver, has been the subject of intense political and legal scrutiny. Her appointment by President Donald Trump as the permanent US Attorney nominee for New Jersey has been controversial, facing opposition from local Democratic senators and criticism related to her prosecutorial decisions and political rhetoric. The indictment against the Florida man highlights the heightened tensions and risks faced by federal officials amidst politically charged environments. It underscores the ongoing challenges in protecting public servants from threats and underscores the federal response to online intimidation and incitement to violence. The situation is part of broader security concerns surrounding Habba, who is currently serving under an interim 120-day term awaiting Senate confirmation for a full four-year appointment. The legal proceedings against the accused continue, and the US Attorney’s office has emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety of federal employees and associated personnel.