Alina Habba, former personal attorney to President Donald Trump, announced her resignation on Monday as the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, following a federal appeals court ruling that declared her appointment unlawful. Habba, who had served in the acting role since March, said her decision was aimed at preserving the “stability and integrity” of the Justice Department’s New Jersey office.
In a statement posted on social media, Habba criticized the court’s decision as politically motivated but said she would comply while continuing to challenge the ruling. “Do not mistake compliance for surrender,” she said, emphasizing that both she and the Justice Department would pursue an appeal. Habba’s resignation adds to the growing list of acting U.S. attorneys appointed during the Trump administration whose tenures have been questioned over exceeding the legally permitted term limits for temporary appointments.
Habba, 41, first gained national attention as one of Trump’s most visible defenders during his previous term in office, often appearing on television and in court on his behalf. Before assuming the federal role, she was a partner at a small law firm in New Jersey. Despite her loyalty to Trump, critics noted her lack of prosecutorial experience and her strong partisan leanings. Both Democratic senators from New Jersey had earlier signaled they would block her formal confirmation, which requires Senate approval.
During her tenure, Habba initiated several controversial cases, including a trespassing charge later dropped against Newark’s Democratic mayor following his visit to an immigration detention center. She also charged Democratic Representative LaMonica McIver with assaulting a federal agent in the same incident, a case that remains unresolved.
Following the court ruling, Habba will remain within the Justice Department as a senior adviser to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Her former responsibilities will temporarily be distributed among three department lawyers.
Reacting to Habba’s departure, Trump denounced the Senate’s tradition of deferring to home-state senators on such appointments, calling it a “very sad situation.” He argued that the system makes it “impossible to appoint a judge or a U.S. attorney,” lamenting the loss of what he described as “great people.”
The appeals court’s decision underscored the need for stability in New Jersey’s federal prosecutor’s office, stating that “citizens and loyal employees deserve clarity.” The episode highlights broader tensions over the Trump administration’s practice of filling key federal roles with acting appointees who bypass Senate confirmation, drawing renewed scrutiny over the boundaries of executive authority.
