Here’s what President Trump is dealing with now.
The Trump administration is facing a growing legal and political challenge inside the Justice Department, as a series of court rulings and resignations threaten to disrupt key prosecutorial efforts nationwide.
At the center of the controversy is an escalating fight over the authority of several U.S. attorneys who were appointed on an interim basis and later ruled by federal judges to be serving unlawfully after their temporary terms expired.
Despite those rulings, Trump-aligned prosecutors appear determined to stay in place.
This week, the office representing U.S. attorneys across the country posted a defiant message on social media reading, “UNITED WE STAND,” alongside a photo of President Trump meeting with federal prosecutors at a recent event. Several of the attorneys pictured have since been cited in court decisions questioning the legality of their continued service.
One notable absence from the image was Alina Habba, who resigned last month after a federal appeals court upheld her disqualification as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor. However, the Justice Department is now pushing to revive her appointment.
According to newly filed court documents, DOJ attorneys have asked the full Third Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider a previous ruling that declared Habba’s role unlawful once her 120-day interim term ended. Government lawyers argue the court imposed restrictions that are not clearly written into federal law and say the issue carries “exceptional importance.”
Even though Habba stepped down, the administration maintains the case is not settled. DOJ lawyers argue that if higher courts overturn the ruling, Habba intends to return to the position. Habba herself confirmed that intention in a sworn declaration, raising the possibility that the dispute could eventually reach the Supreme Court.
The legal fallout has already spread to other districts.
Following Habba’s resignation, her duties were divided among multiple prosecutors. Soon after, another Trump-aligned U.S. attorney stepped down, citing the same appeals court decision as the reason.
Last week, a federal judge also removed an acting U.S. attorney in New York from investigations involving the state attorney general and invalidated related subpoenas. The ruling referenced the same legal reasoning used in Habba’s case.
Similar decisions have been issued in other states, including Virginia, California, and Nevada. In several instances, prosecutors have remained in their roles despite the court findings, setting up further legal clashes.
One Virginia prosecutor sharply criticized a federal judge who questioned her authority, accusing the court of overstepping its role and attempting to pressure the executive branch. The judge has not publicly responded.
These disputes have already affected high-profile cases.
Several criminal prosecutions involving prominent Trump critics were dismissed after courts ruled the prosecutors overseeing them were improperly appointed. The Justice Department has since appealed those dismissals, with briefing scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.
Behind closed doors, tensions appear to be mounting.
According to published reports, President Trump recently expressed frustration with federal prosecutors, criticizing what he sees as delays and reluctance to pursue politically sensitive investigations. The comments reportedly came during a meeting with U.S. attorneys and senior Justice Department leadership.
Shortly afterward, federal prosecutors issued subpoenas related to testimony given by the Federal Reserve chair regarding a multibillion-dollar renovation project at the Fed’s Washington headquarters. Officials involved have publicly denied wrongdoing.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, D.C., has stated it attempted to contact the Federal Reserve multiple times and received no response, emphasizing that any investigative decisions are based solely on evidence and procedure.
Additional scrutiny has reportedly extended to Democratic lawmakers who participated in a video encouraging service members to resist unlawful orders. While officials have not confirmed an investigation, several lawmakers involved have acknowledged being contacted by authorities.
The pressure has also led to internal turmoil.
In Minnesota, multiple federal prosecutors reportedly resigned amid disagreements over whether to pursue an investigation involving a fatal shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Additional departures have reportedly occurred within the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division following similar disputes.
According to estimates from a Justice Department alumni organization, hundreds of career DOJ employees have been dismissed since President Trump returned to office, while thousands more have left voluntarily.
As legal challenges, internal resistance, and political pressure continue to collide, the administration now faces a significant test—one that could reshape the future authority of U.S. attorneys and redefine the balance of power between the courts and the executive branch.