Trump Defends Alina Habba in Heated DOJ-Judges Clash Over U.S. Attorney Role

President Donald Trump is standing firmly behind Alina Habba, his nominee for U.S. attorney in New Jersey, amidst a heated clash between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and federal judges over her interim role. With Habba’s 120-day term set to expire this week, the situation has spiraled into a chaotic power struggle, raising questions about who will ultimately take the helm in the Garden State.

The drama unfolded as New Jersey’s federal judges, mostly appointed by Democratic presidents, voted to replace Habba with Desiree Grace, a seasoned DOJ prosecutor. But the DOJ, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, swiftly fired Grace, alleging the judges overstepped their authority and infringed on Trump’s right to appoint U.S. attorneys. Bondi didn’t mince words, praising Habba’s efforts to ‘make NJ safe again’ while accusing the judiciary of political bias.

Trump and his administration remain unwavering in their support, with a White House spokesman affirming the President’s confidence in Habba and pushing for her permanent Senate confirmation. Yet, that path looks rocky—New Jersey’s Democratic senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, are blocking her nomination through the Senate’s ‘blue slip’ tradition, and critics continue to question her qualifications given her lack of prosecutorial experience prior to this role.

Adding fuel to the fire, Senator Booker called the firing of Grace a ‘blatant attempt to intimidate’ and undermine judicial independence, pointing to a broader pattern of DOJ overreach. Meanwhile, Habba’s tenure hasn’t been without controversy—she’s faced accusations of politicizing the office after advocating to turn New Jersey ‘red’ and drawing judicial criticism over her handling of a high-profile arrest in Newark.

As the deadline looms, the question remains: who will step into the role come Saturday? Legal experts suggest Trump may have the authority to reappoint Habba for another temporary term or pivot to a different candidate under vacancy laws. One thing is clear—this standoff is far from over, and the battle over New Jersey’s top prosecutor is a microcosm of deeper tensions between executive power and judicial independence.