In yet another showdown between the Trump administration and a deeply entrenched judiciary, the Department of Justice slammed back against a group of federal judges in New Jersey who attempted to override President Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney. Alina Habba, a trusted Trump attorney and acting U.S. attorney since March, faced an abrupt demotion this week—but the DOJ quickly reversed course and fired her replacement.

The controversy ignited when a panel of district judges—most appointed by Presidents Obama and Biden—refused to extend Habba’s tenure, even with her Senate confirmation still pending. The court instead named Desiree Leigh Grace, one of Habba’s subordinates, as temporary U.S. attorney without providing a formal explanation.

Critics immediately accused the court of partisan gamesmanship. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had publicly urged judges to reject Habba after she indicted Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) for allegedly assaulting an ICE officer, fueling speculation that political retaliation was behind the vote.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche didn’t mince words. “Their rush reveals what this was always about: a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law,” he said, accusing the bench of trying to oust Habba before her term expired this Friday.

Attorney General Pam Bondi followed with a bombshell announcement Tuesday night: Grace, the judges’ handpicked replacement, had been fired. “This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges — especially when they threaten the President’s core Article II powers,” Bondi said. In other words, the court’s attempt to sideline Habba was nullified by executive action.

Habba, known for her fierce defense of Trump during multiple legal battles, was personally selected by the president in March and formally nominated for a full four-year term on July 1. Her appointment is currently awaiting Senate confirmation, a process that’s been aggressively opposed by Democrats like Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim.

Trump himself praised Habba when he named her interim attorney, saying she would “fight tirelessly to secure a legal system that is both fair and just for the wonderful people of New Jersey.” The administration remains fully committed to her confirmation.

The White House made clear it’s not backing down. Deputy press secretary Harrison Fields reiterated Trump’s support, saying, “President Trump has full confidence in Alina Habba. The Trump administration looks forward to her final confirmation in the U.S. Senate and will work tirelessly to ensure the people of New Jersey are well represented.”

Meanwhile, Democrats accused the DOJ of undermining judicial independence. Booker and Kim issued a joint statement blasting the removal of Grace as a “blatant attempt to intimidate anyone that doesn’t agree with them.”

But the DOJ insists that the judges overstepped their bounds—and that Trump’s authority under the Constitution gives him the final say in appointments like this one. “This backroom vote will not override the authority of the chief executive,” Blanche emphasized.

The clash underscores the broader battle over judicial power and executive authority as the Trump administration barrels ahead with a renewed mission to root out what it sees as deep-state interference and activist overreach.

With confirmation looming, Habba remains in her role—and the White House seems ready for the fight ahead.