Federal Judges Move to Replace Trump-Picked US Attorney in Eastern Virginia

Judges seek to appoint a new interim U.S. attorney as Lindsey Halligan’s disputed term expires.

Lindsey Halligan, then special assistant to the president, speaks with a reporter outside of the White House in Washington on Aug. 20, 2025. Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo

Federal judges in the Eastern District of Virginia are seeking applicants to replace Lindsey Halligan, President Donald Trump’s handpicked choice, as the district’s top federal prosecutor.

M. Hannah Lauck, the district’s chief judge, issued an order on Jan. 20 stating that because Halligan’s 120-day appointment formally ends on that date, the U.S. attorney position in the district “will be vacant.”