Alina Habba Is Named Acting U.S. Attorney in New Jersey

Ms. Habba’s tenure as interim U.S. attorney was slated to end this week, but the Trump administration’s appointment will allow her to remain the top law enforcement official in the state.


Alina Habba, seen being sworn in as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey earlier this year, was appointed as acting U.S. attorney for the state on Thursday. Kenny Holston/The New York Times

By Tracey Tully and Jonah E. Bromwich
July 24, 2025

The Justice Department on Thursday cleared the way for Alina Habba to remain in her role as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey. … Ms. Habba’s tenure as interim U.S. attorney was set to expire on Friday. But she announced on social media on Thursday that she would be New Jersey’s acting U.S. attorney. … The decision will allow Ms. Habba to lead the New Jersey office for at least the next 210 days.

President Trump had previously nominated Ms. Habba to be U.S. attorney in a permanent capacity, which under the law would have precluded her from serving as acting U.S. attorney. But a spokesman for the Justice Department said Thursday that the White House had withdrawn her nomination, allowing her to serve as acting U.S. attorney.

A White House spokesman, Harrison Fields, said in a statement that, “President Trump continues to have full confidence in Alina Habba and her commitment to serve the people of New Jersey.”

The sudden announcement for now ends a days-long standoff between officials in Washington and federal judges in New Jersey that had caused chaos in the prosecutor’s office, with each abrupt development leaving it more unclear who would lead in the weeks to come. {snip} Earlier this week, the judges appointed their own choice for U.S. attorney, an experienced prosecutor named Desiree Leigh Grace. But shortly after Ms. Grace was named, Justice Department officials announced that she had been fired, attacking the judges as political agents and declaring their support for Ms. Habba.

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Tracey Tully is a reporter for The Times who covers New Jersey, where she has lived for more than 20 years.

Jonah E. Bromwich covers criminal justice in the New York region for The Times. He is focused on political influence and its effect on the rule of law in the area's federal and state courts.