President Trump is pushing forward with his nomination of Alina Habba as U.S. attorney for New Jersey, despite federal judges rejecting an extension of her interim term. The move has created a legal and political standoff involving the DOJ, Senate Democrats, and the courts.
Key Facts:
- President Trump appointed Alina Habba as interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey in March.
- Federal judges in New Jersey voted to replace Habba with her deputy, Desiree Grace, a longtime DOJ prosecutor.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi fired Grace after the court’s decision, accusing the judges of overstepping presidential authority.
- Habba’s 120-day interim term expires this Friday, but her permanent appointment is blocked by NJ Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim.
- The White House has confirmed Trump’s full support for Habba’s permanent nomination, pending Senate confirmation.
The Rest of The Story:
President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi are defending Alina Habba’s appointment amid an ongoing legal power struggle in New Jersey.
After a panel of federal judges, most appointed by Democratic presidents, moved to replace Habba with her deputy, Desiree Grace, Bondi responded swiftly by terminating Grace.
Habba, who previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer, was appointed interim U.S. attorney in March.
Her appointment sparked controversy due to her lack of prosecutorial experience and actions deemed political—like calling for New Jersey to be turned “red” and ordering the brief arrest of Newark’s Democrat mayor.
Trump’s administration argues that the president has sole authority to make such appointments and intends to fight what they see as judicial overreach.
The Senate, meanwhile, is unlikely to confirm Habba anytime soon due to resistance from New Jersey’s two Democrat senators, who are blocking the process using the “blue slip” rule.
🚨 BREAKING: Attorney General Pam Bondi just FIRED the replacement for US Attorney Alina Habba after New Jersey liberal judges colluded to kick Habba out of her position.
THAT'S how you fight against rogue judges.
Habba is set to be replaced by the "First Assistant." Bondi… pic.twitter.com/i2NbSH1FYf
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 22, 2025
Commentary:
This case once again shows how federal judges are actively undermining the authority of the president.
Rather than respecting the executive’s constitutional role to appoint U.S. attorneys, a panel of judges met behind closed doors to oust Trump’s pick and install their own.
That’s not how a constitutional republic is supposed to function.
The law is clear: the president has the power to appoint U.S. attorneys, subject to Senate confirmation—not court approval.
Yet these judges are inserting themselves into a process they have no business controlling, essentially overriding the president’s decision with political motives disguised as legal procedure.
It’s even more troubling that the Department of Justice had to step in and fire Grace, the judges’ replacement, to maintain control over the appointment.
This signals not only a serious breakdown in institutional boundaries but a coordinated effort to keep Trump’s appointees out of key positions.
Adding to this power play is the role of New Jersey’s senators, who are hiding behind Senate traditions to block Habba’s confirmation.
The “blue slip” practice is an old Senate custom, not law, and it’s being used here to stifle an appointment purely for political reasons.
This kind of obstruction sets a dangerous precedent. If unelected judges and senators can quietly kill presidential appointments, what recourse is left for the executive branch to carry out its lawful duties?
Habba may not fit the mold of a traditional U.S. attorney, but the Constitution doesn’t require prior DOJ tenure—it requires accountability to voters through presidential elections and Senate confirmation.
That process is now being sidestepped. The government needs clarity, not confusion.
At a time when crime and public safety are urgent issues, this legal drama delays the work that needs to be done in the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Ultimately, if America is to be governed by laws, not partisan games, the Senate must hold a fair hearing, and the courts must respect their role—not expand it.
The Bottom Line:
The fight over Alina Habba’s role as U.S. attorney in New Jersey exposes deeper tensions between the executive branch, the judiciary, and partisan senators.
The president has the constitutional authority to make appointments, and that authority must be respected.
The ongoing obstruction—whether from judges behind closed doors or senators exploiting procedural loopholes—is eroding the integrity of our institutions and delaying justice for the people of New Jersey.
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