Federal judges in New Jersey have pushed out Alina Habba, a close Trump ally and interim U.S. Attorney for the district—triggering an immediate and aggressive response from the Department of Justice, which fired the judges’ court-appointed replacement just hours later.
Habba, who took the post in March, was installed by the Trump administration for a 120-day interim term. But as that term expired, the U.S. District Court for New Jersey declined to keep her in the role. Instead, the court issued a standing order appointing her deputy, Desiree Leigh Grace, to lead the office starting Tuesday.
The order, signed by Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb, came just before Habba’s time ran out.
Within hours, the Justice Department struck back—removing Grace from her position altogether.
“Accordingly, the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just been removed,” Attorney General Pam Bondi announced. “This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges — especially when they threaten the President’s core Article II powers.”
It’s unclear whether Grace’s removal legally prevents her from assuming the U.S. Attorney role. The judges had already made the appointment official, but under federal law, the President—not the court—has the final say on permanent replacements.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche didn’t hold back.
“They forced out President Trump’s pick, @USAttyHabba, then installed her deputy, colluding with the NJ Senators along the way. It won’t work,” he posted on X. “Pursuant to the President’s authority, we have removed that deputy, effective immediately.”
Blanche also wrote: “Their rush reveals what this was always about: a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law. When judges act like activists, they undermine confidence in our justice system. Alina is President Trump’s choice to lead—and no partisan bench can override that.”
Habba, a first-generation American from New Jersey, gained national attention representing Trump in multiple legal battles, including the business fraud case and the sexual assault and defamation lawsuits brought by columnist E. Jean Carroll. She also previously worked in the White House as a counselor to the president and served as his legal spokesperson.
Her term as U.S. Attorney drew controversy after her office oversaw the arrests of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Rep. LaMonica McIver (both Democrats) following an incident at an ICE facility. The trespassing charge against Baraka was later dropped, and a judge called the arrest a “worrisome misstep” and an “embarrassing” move by the government. McIver still faces federal charges and has pleaded not guilty. Baraka has since filed a lawsuit against Habba for damages.
Despite the criticism, Trump’s DOJ leadership continued to defend her.
Before her ousting, Blanche posted that Habba had shown “steady leadership and sound judgment” and had “the full confidence” of both the president and DOJ leadership.
The power struggle in New Jersey mirrors a similar situation in New York’s Northern District, where federal judges declined to keep another Trump pick, John Sarcone III. In that case, the DOJ sidestepped the court by naming Sarcone a special attorney to the Attorney General—giving him U.S. attorney-level powers without the court’s approval.
The DOJ has not said whether it will take the same approach with Habba.
For now, one thing is clear: Trump’s team wants her in. The judges said no. The DOJ fired the judges’ pick. And the fight for control over the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey is far from over.
