Habba’s Veterans Remarks Stir Controversy as She Continues to Hold U.S. Attorney Role in New Jersey

President Trump has orchestrated a move to keep Alina Habba—his former personal lawyer and controversial White House adviser—as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, despite federal judges rejecting her continued service in that capacity.

On March 4, 2025, Habba made headlines when she downplayed the fate of veterans dismissed during the federal government workforce reductions, sparking bipartisan outrage over her conclusions about their fitness for employment people once served their country.

Later, on July 25, 2025, the White House withdrew her nomination just before her allowed 120‑day interim term was set to expire. Habba then declared on X that she is now again serving as Acting U.S. Attorney under a new appointment, effectively resetting the tenure clock via the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.

The legal workaround—championed by Attorney General Pam Bondi—appointed her as first assistant, extending her hold on the office up to 210 more days as long as no formal nomination is submitted.

A 17‑judge majority in the New Jersey federal judiciary had previously declined to let Habba’s initial interim appointment carry beyond March, instead designating Desiree Leigh Grace—a career prosecutor—as permanent U.S. Attorney. Bondi dismissed Grace as “rogue,” accused the judges of political bias, and reinstated Habba through a procedural find-around.

Critics argue Habba’s record includes lacking prosecutorial experience, politicizing the U.S. Attorney’s office, and sidestepping Senate review—raising serious concerns about judicial independence and Department of Justice integrity.

Habba’s statement dismissing veterans’ fitness for employment struck a raw nerve given the administration’s mass layoffs, particularly at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where veterans make up roughly 30% of the workforce . Observers stressed that many dismissed veterans had strong performance histories and raised questions about the administration’s commitment to honoring service members.

Despite mounting criticism, Habba has framed the controversy as a battle for fairness, asserting on social media: “I don’t cower to pressure. I don’t answer to politics. This is a fight for justice.” She has accused opponents of trying to thwart her service through politicization of the U.S. Attorney’s office .

Her continued hold on the New Jersey prosecutor’s office exemplifies the administration’s broader strategy of installing political loyalists—regardless of legal norms—amid fierce opposition from both legal professionals and Senate Democrats like Cory Booker and Andy Kim .